“We are trying to find our best version,” Carlo Ancelotti admitted after his Real Madrid side somehow escaped with all three points in their Champions League opener against Stuttgart two weeks ago.

We all know what this Madrid team is. They’re not inverting full-backs and pressing opponents into submission, but they’ve got a ludicrous drizzling of superstar talent and are blessed with the ultimate problem-solver in Ancelotti.

The Italian continues to work at finding his optimal formula, but Sunday’s draw to crosstown rivals Atletico seemed like a step in the right direction. Ancelotti will get another chance to assess the progress of his squad on Wednesday as Madrid take on Lille away from home in their second league phase encounter.

Kylian Mbappe, who missed Sunday’s draw, has travelled to France with the rest of the Madrid squad, and here’s the team Ancelotti could pick on Wednesday night.

GK: Andriy Lunin – There could be a run in the team for Lunin after Thibaut Courtois suffered an abductor injury in the Madrid derby. The Ukrainian recently signed a contract extension until 2030 with Los Blancos.

RB: Dani Carvajal – The long-time Madridista has suddenly become a handy goalscorer for Ancelotti’s side, and he may well enjoy a venture forward into the final third or two on Wednesday.

CB: Antonio Rudiger – The German defender scored the go-ahead goal on Matchday 1 to get Madrid out of jail against the superior Stuttgart.

CB: Eder Militao – Militao crashed home a rare goal on Sunday, but Angel Correa’s stoppage-time equaliser meant the Brazilian’s emphatic effort was merely worth a point. Still, he’s stayed injury-free since returning from an ACL tear earlier this year and is returning to his best form.

LB: Ferland Mendy – Fran Garcia may struggle to feature on Wednesday given the challenge he was subject to at the end of the derby, but Mendy was always going to retain his place anyway.

CM: Aurelien Tchouameni – Despite getting through 90 minutes on Sunday, Ancelotti, due to a couple of injuries, doesn’t have the midfield options to rotate heavily in midweek. Thus, Tchouameni should start again at the base of midfield against Lille.

CM: Eduardo Camavinga – Camavinga was named in Ancelotti’s matchday squad for the first time at the weekend, but he didn’t take to the field. A start on Wednesday may come too quickly for the Frenchman, but the Madrid boss will surely be tempted to partner Camavinga with Tchouameni.

CM: Federico Valverde – We know that Valverde is the man that needs no rest, and the Uruguayan should be okay to go again having run himself into the ground down the right flank in Sunday’s derby.

AM: Jude Bellingham – We’ve seen Bellingham utilised in a deeper midfield role following the retirement of Toni Kroos, but there could be a shift on Wednesday which could hand the Englishman the attacking freedom he was afforded last season.

ST: Rodrygo – The Brazilian has enjoyed a good start to the 2024/25 campaign and is impressing in unison with his compatriot in the frontline. He’ll occupy the right flank in this Champions League bout but have the license to rotate infield when Carvajal advances.

ST: Vinicius Junior – Mbappe is in the matchday squad, but given that he’s returned far earlier than expected from a muscle injury, the Frenchman will surely earn minutes off the bench – if Ancelotti opts to use him at all.

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