Xabi Alonso: Mastantuono could start for Real Madrid v Barcelona | OneFootball

Franco Mastantuono arrived at Real Madrid in August and quickly earned a spot in Xabi Alonso's rotation, taking advantage of Jude Bellingham's injury and Rodrygo's decline in the coach's consideration. The Argentine has started several matches, and this Sunday he could start in his first Spanish football Clásico against Barcelona.

The merengue team hosts the blaugrana club at the Santiago Bernabéu with the top of LALIGA at stake (Real Madrid 24pts, Barcelona 22pts) and Xabi Alonso faced the media in a press conference before the match. Obviously, the focus was on the starting eleven that will take the field from the first minute, and the Spaniard was quite clear: “I have it in my head,” he stated.

The inquiry mainly arose from the call-up of Jude Bellingham, who is not yet at his best form after recovering from the shoulder surgery he underwent mid-year. And with the Briton “at 80%,” his chances of starting also decrease, while those of players like Mastantuono increase.

Even so, Xabi Alonso was cautious: “All the players in the squad can start from the beginning,” he warned. “[The starting eleven] I have it in my head,” he assured without sharing it, and highlighted: “We have recovered almost all the players who couldn't be there against Juventus.”

Mastantuono vs. Bellingham for a spot in Real Madrid's eleven vs. Barcelona

Bellingham returned to play at the end of September, but has only started in three matches since then: the defeat against Atlético de Madrid, the victory against Getafe, and the win against Juventus midweek, where he scored his first goal of the season. In contrast, Franco Mastantuono has accumulated a goal and an assist in eight matches played as a starter this season for Real Madrid.

The head-to-head for a spot in the eleven seems the clearest, although both could start - or neither - since Xabi Alonso has several options in that second line of attack, including Brahim Díaz and Arda Güler, both starters on Wednesday vs. Juventus for the Champions League.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.