Journalist Luis Nieto, writing for AS, has revealed that Kylian Mbappe is set to return to Real Madrid’s starting line-up in their upcoming home fixture against Villarreal.
This will be the French striker’s first start after missing out on the Madrid derby and only playing the final 30 minutes of the match against Lille, a performance that went largely unnoticed.
Despite the disruptions from the start of the season, it must be noted that Mbappe has managed to maintain an impressive scoring record.
He has already scored seven goals this season, with three of these goals coming from the penalty spot in both seasons. However, despite these numbers, his overall impact on the team has not been as significant as many anticipated.
Ancelotti will revert his formation
Mbappe’s return to the starting XI signals a tactical shift for manager Carlo Ancelotti, who will likely revert to his preferred 4-3-3 formation.
In recent matches, during Mbappe’s absence, Ancelotti had opted to play with just two forwards, especially during the match against Lille, where Rodrygo’s back injury forced him to field Vinicius Jr. and Endrick as the attacking duo.
However, now that Rodrygo has recovered and is available to play, the Brazilian forward is expected to join Vinicius Jr. and Mbappe in a formidable attacking trio.
With Mbappe back in the fold, Real Madrid will hope to regain their attacking momentum as they aim for a strong performance against Villarreal.
His return could provide the spark that the team needs, especially after their recent adjustments to cope without him.
The combination of Mbappe, Vinicius, and Rodrygo promises to be a dynamic force in Ancelotti’s attack, and fans will be eager to see how this trio performs in the upcoming match.