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After FC Barcelona's forceful 6-0 victory over Getafe, Los Blancos need to beat UD Almería in the Bernabéu this evening to keep the fight for the league trophy alive. To do so, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will need to choose a balanced lineup from a squad list with many important absences, but that should not be a big problem, as Almería are one of the weakest teams in La Liga. In fact, rotations would be really important today given that Real Madrid will face Sevilla, Valencia and Juventus (twice) in the next fifteen days.
- Real Madrid projected XI: Keylor Navas; Arbeloa, Varane, Pepe, Marcelo; Kroos, Isco, James; Jesé, Cristiano Ronaldo and Chicharito Hernández.
- Almería projected XI: Rubén; Ximo, Mauro, Trujillo, Dubarbier; Verza, Thomas, Corona; Espinosa, Jonathan, Hemed.
With Carvajal and Ramos out of the squad list and Modric, Bale and Benzema still not healthy, the only reasonable doubt is whether Ancelotti will adopt a compact stance with Illarramendi in the midfield or he will give Chicharito another chance upfront. Keylor Navas will take Casillas' spot probably for the last time this season, and Jesé Rodríguez will have a new chance to convince everyone he should not be sent on loan next summer.