Open Thread: September 12, 2021

The Open Thread/Daily Merengue is a place where you can discuss anything and everything related to football. Feel free to discuss the topics presented here, or start your very own discussions! The Open thread will be posted every day by one of the mods: Valyrian Steel, Felipejack, YoSnail, Ezek Ix or NeRObutBlanco.

It’s Match Day!

Los Blancos play Celta Vigo at the Bernabeu, which has finally been reopened after renovations. The information about this match as we have it:

• Game time is 3pm EST / 9 PM CET
• It’s their first game back at the stadium since March 2020
• After three matches, Real Madrid have two wins (Betis 1-0, Alaves 4-1) and one draw (Levante 3-3)
• David Alaba and Gareth Bale are out with muscle injuries
• Luka Jovic is out with gastroenteritis
• Casemiro, Valverde and Vinicius Junior are back with the team and ready, but just returned from international duty

Starting lineup questions

Carlo Ancelotti has a pair of difficult decisions to make.

Left back: Marcelo is returning and available, but Castilla player Miguel Gutierrez has shown strong performances, particularly against the veteran and physical Real Betis. Mendy is back in the lineup, but coming off the long-term injury he is not expected to start immediately.

Left wing: Vincius Junior has been excellent this season, particularly with the crucial brace against Levante. Meanwhile, Eden Hazard played well on international duty and, if healthy, could begin to come through on his promises to show Madridistas that he can still be a great player.

Likely lineup:

Defense: Carvajal, Militao, Nacho, Gutierrez

Midfield: Blanco, Modric, Isco

Forwards: Vinicius, Benzema, Rodrygo

President Florentino Perez greeted the players before training at the Bernabeu

Carlo Ancelotti’s press conference in full

Real Madrid invited the Bernabeu workers to Sunday’s match

It is a class gesture, well-representative of Real Madrid.

Real Madrid is Wesley Fofana’s dream club

It’s not out of the realm of possibility for Real Madrid to be interested in a player of his attributes.