Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti will not leave Kylian Mbappe out of the starting line-up as expected when his team takes on Deportivo Alaves at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.

At a pre-match press conference in the Spanish capital on Monday afternoon, the Italian remained tight-lipped when asked if he would rest the Frenchman, having played in every game since joining on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.

However, he did confirm that rotations would take place and that Dani Carvajal would not be fit enough to play, with the right-back likely to play in next weekend’s Madrid derby.

Contrary to what AS reported, Ancelotti will not give Endrick his first start as number 9 with number 16 in what would have been an all-Brazilian attack with the 18-year-old flanked by compatriots Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo.

Instead, it will be the same wingers who partner Kylian Mbappe. Nevertheless, Ancelotti is happy with Endrick and finds in him someone who is hardworking and motivated.

“For me he is a striker… but sometimes he can also play on the wing. He is not a winger, but he can play very well inside and can also benefit from minutes on the wing,” Ancelotti said.

Back to the line-up: Ancelotti is playing with a midfield trio of Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde, supported by lynchpin Aurelien Tchouameni, while captain Luka Modric is missing.

There are places in the line-up for both Eder Militao and Eder Militao after the German was rested against Espanyol last time out.

With Carvajal out, his place is taken by Lucas Vazquez, while Ferland Mendy is the left back, replacing Fran Garcia, as the defence tries to protect Thibaut Courtois’ goal.

A win would give Madrid the chance to reduce arch-rivals FC Barcelona’s lead over the Catalans, who host Getafe on Wednesday, to just one point.