Real Madrid vs. Pachuca Starting line-up: Ancelotti has a huge surprise

On By Littum

Carlo Ancelotti’s starting XI for Wednesday’s Intercontinental Cup final against Pachuca has an unexpected surprise.

Kylian Mbappe was just beginning to hit form after matches since completing a high-profile free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.

After Ancelotti admitted his No.9 was not at his “best level” following a 2-1 defeat to Athletic Club in San Mames a fortnight ago, the Frenchman responded with stunning goals in wins against Girona (3-0) on home market and Atalanta in the Champions League (3-2).

Mbappe scored the opening goal inside 10 minutes during the latter’s triumph in Bergamo, but then asked to be sent off 25 later.

Madrid later confirmed an injury to the Ballon d’Or hopeful and while Mbappe missed the 3-3 thriller at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday night, he was always expected to at least make the trip to Qatar for the reinstated Intercontinental Cup final.

What wasn’t in the script is Mbappe going straight into the starting XI on the front line, with top scorer Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo to the left and right.

This is the approach Ancelotti will take, however, with Eduardo Camavinga as the lone focal point behind more advanced midfielders Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde.

With Ferland Mendy nursing a strike, Fran Garcia is left back and Lucas Vazquez is on the other defensive flank.

Aurelien Tchouameni and Toni Rudiger are the centre-back pairing, meaning once again there is no starting space for breakout star Raul Asencio to help protect Thibaut Courtois’ goals.

In a pre-match press conference where he had to field a question about whether he has lost control of his players, Ancelotti insisted his men will come into the Intercontinental Cup final “more animated” than before and “better than a month ago since”.

“It’s a unique match, a unique final. We’re very excited,” he said of the match against Mexican opponents, which is a sort of precursor to the redesigned Club World Cup taking place in the United States this summer.

Real Madrid Starting XI vs. Pachuca: Courtois; Fran, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Vazquez; Camavinga, Valverde, Bellingham; Vinicius, Mbappe, Rodrygo