Ancelotti not looking to rotate Madrid keepers this season

MADRID, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) --

Real Madrid plays their second consecutive away game at the start of the La Liga season against Almeria on Saturday night, as work continues on putting the finishing touches to the remodeling of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Carlo Ancelotti's side kicked off their title challenge with a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao last Saturday, with Jude Bellingham enjoying an impressive goalscoring debut, but that win came at a price with center-back Eder Militao suffering a season-ending knee injury.

Antonio Rudiger will step in for Militao at Almeria, and for the moment it looks as if Real Madrid won't go into the transfer market to sign a replacement.

The week did see the club move to sign Kepa Arrizabalaga on loan to cover for the injured Thibaut Courtois, and one of the questions ahead of Saturday's game is if Kepa will make his debut or whether Ancelotti will keep faith with Andriy Lunin.

Lunin wasn't asked to do much in Bilbao last weekend but was generally solid between the posts, and if Ancelotti drops him now, that would make clear that the Ukraine international isn't part of Real Madrid's plans.

"Kepa has adapted and showed his personality and quality, but we will continue with Lunin tomorrow, then we'll see," said Ancelotti when asked about his two keepers.

However, the coach implied that Kepa would be first choice in the future, saying: "I don't know if I'll rotate the keepers. Kepa already has a very high level and a lot of experience at international level, which is something Lunin doesn't have."

"We won't make many rotations. It will be one or the other," said Ancelotti.

Another question will be whether Ancelotti decides to make any changes to a midfield that performed well in Bilbao, with Aurelien Tchouameni in a deep role, Eduardo Camavinga and Fede Valverde on the flanks and Bellingham spearheading a diamond formation.

That left Toni Kroos and Luka Modric to make late substitute appearances with the game already won, and Ancelotti will have to decide if he starts rotating this early in the season, or risks irritating two of his most experienced players.

"They are both in good shape, they have prepared very well this week, like the other players. We are lucky to have a week to prepare for this game, which isn't usual these days, they are ready to play," Ancelotti said of his veterans.

Finally, Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr will continue in attack, although Vinicius looks less comfortable in a more central role and seems happier on the wing.