Real Madrid predicted lineup for LaLiga 2024-25 season

Los Blancos have assembled a modern version of the Galacticos.

Real Madrid CF have now assembled a squad worth 1.36 Billion Euros with their latest acquisition of French superstar Kylian Mbappe. The Spanish Giants have, however, not spent as much as their players’ current market values. That’s all thanks to the genius of club president Florentino Perez.

Head coach Carlo Ancelotti is bound to have a selection headache because of the sheer depth of his squad. Apart from goalkeeper and fullback, every position has an excess of three players.

Jude Bellingham was arguably LaLiga 2023-24’s best signing. The prodigious English midfielder emulated his heroics in the UEFA Champions League helping his side to win both titles. But now that Mbappe is here, he will probably not continue playing as a false nine. Or will he?

Let us try to find out as we see Real Madrid’s predicted lineup for LaLiga 2024-25:

Real Madrid Predicted Formation (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois 

After a season riddled with knee injuries (Meniscus and Anterior Cruciate Ligament), the Belgian shot-stopper is back to fitness, having played a part in Real Madrid’s pre-season tour. Courtois was out of action for a staggering 274 days but seems to have made good progress on his rehabilitation. While Andriy Lunin can step in whenever needed, Ancelotti will likely go with Courtois as his first-choice keeper, given his renowned cat-like reflexes and towering stature. 

Right-Back: Dani Carvajal 

Even at 32, the veteran right-back rewinds the clock, winning the UEFA Champions League 2023-24, LaLiga 2023-24 and the Spanish Super Cup 2023-24 with Real Madrid before winning UEFA Euro 2024 with Spain. Anyone who might mistake his age as a telltale sign of waning abilities is in for a surprise, as the Spaniard rivalled rapid youngsters like Jamal Musiala and Karim Adeyemi and even bested them on one-on-ones. 

Going forward, Carvajal was equally pivotal, with six goals and seven assists for Real Madrid. The manager is sure to reward the long-serving defender for a brilliant year with a starting place in the lineup this season.  

Centre-Back: Éder Militão 

Personally, the Selecao centre-half had to endure a tough year, rupturing his cruciate ligament back in August 2023, which kept him out till March this year. Like Courtouis he missed a similar 230 days of action, as former club captain Nacho Fernandez started instead.

But now that he’s back, he will provide a stoic and gladiator-like option at the back. While Los Merengues already have a similar defender in Antonio Rudiger, they will profit off the Brazilian’s speed and calmness under pressure.

Centre-Back: Antonio Rüdiger 

Rudiger has gone from strength to strength after joining Los Blancos. He added yet another LaLiga, Champions League and Spanish Super Cup title to his silverware cabinet. While he was knocked out by Carvajal’s Spain in the Euros, the centre-back was his usual-menacing self for Real Madrid, bullying world-class forwards like Erling Haaland and Harry Kane like they were featherweights. Unless Ancelotti needs a ball-playing centre-back like David Alaba, he is probably going to stick to Rudiger as his no-nonsense centre-half option.

Left-Back: Fran García 

A promising candidate at left-back much more natural than Camavinga, Fran Garcia provided five assists and scored once in 25 outings for Real Madrid last season. Garcia also averaged his highest-ever shot-creating actions per 90 (2.19) in LaLiga 2023-24 meaning he is the high-flying yet defensively resolute fullback that personifies the Real Madrid DNA. Ancelotti will surely give the youngster more chances. Expecting him to start ahead of Ferland Mendy and giving the Frenchman good competition. 

Central Midfielder: Federico Valverde 

Valverde’s thunderous pace and rocket-shooting have earned him the title of ‘El Halcon’ among Madridistas. The Uruguayan repaid their favour by stating in an interview, “If they (the club) want me out, they’ll have to kill me”. The rapid midfielder offers Ancelotti a different type of versatility as he can be fielded as a right winger too. Valverde scored twice and assisted seven times in LaLiga 2023-24 but his sinister threat from long distance will get any goalkeeper praying for an unbroken hand. 

Central Defensive Midfielder: Eduardo Camavinga 

The French midfielder displayed his ridiculous flexibility once again last season, playing six games at left-back and also notching one assist. However, his best position is in midfield, pulling the strings, dribbling past opponents and battling them to take control. But Ancelotti’s primary preference would be putting him in defensive midfield where he can show off everything that he can do: be it shooting, dribbling, tackling or passing. 

Central Midfielder: Jude Bellingham 

Whenever the Golden Boy 2023 winner touched the ball (with his feet) turned into a goal last season. That is the only way to describe Jude Bellingham’s impact after arriving at Madrid. The Santiago Bernabeu witnessed a generational talent as he scored an unimaginable 23 times and assisted 13 times while playing out of position, as a false nine. Needless to say, the Englishman will want to erase his heartbreaking Euro 2024 stint and move on as the attacking fulcrum that Ancelotti needs in his new-look side.  

Right Winger: Rodrygo 

Imagine how talented you have to be to keep the likes of Arda Guler and Brahim Diaz at bay. Despite both being natural attacking midfielders, their left-footed proficiency makes them ideal for a berth on the right flank as inverted wingers. Instead, Real Madrid have Samba star Rodrygo Goes, clocking in with 17 goals and nine assists despite being right-footed and striking up a fearsome partnership with Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian will be expected to start a majority of games in LaLiga 2024-25 once again, with Ancelotti having full faith in the comeback hero’s capabilities.

Striker: Kylian Mbappé 

Need anything be said about Real Madrid’s star signing? Kylian Mbappe is pretty much the missing piece to Los Blancos’ puzzle. He will offer both a central threat and an option on the wing. Although he plays his best football drifting in from the left wing, his speed, height and balance make him an ideal candidate for a striker. While it is almost guaranteed that he will start, fans can’t wait to see how he combines with the rest of the team to form a potentially groundbreaking attack in world football history.

Left Winger: Vinicius Jr

Apart from being the driving force of Los Merengues’ attack, Vinicius Jr. is an unchallenged and solitary competitor in the left-wing department. His tally for Real Madrid last season reached 24 goals and 11 assists, making him a strong candidate for the Ballon d’Or 2024. Madridistas will be hoping to see MSN (Messi-Suarez-Neymar) level coordination between him, Rodrygo and Mbappe as the trio holds the frightening potential to demolish defences with their flicks and tricks. 

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