Ancelotti is preparing a surprising change in the formation against Manchester City

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is not known for over-complicating his formations or experimenting with positions, except in emergency situations. 

However, the injury crisis has once again gripped the Madrid club this weekend, forcing the Italian coach to improvise for the duel against Manchester City. 

All of the starting defenders are injured, with Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba announced as absent last week. 

Adding to this the absences of Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal, it means that Aurelien Tchouameni will play from the first minute in defense as a partner of Raul Asencio. 

Read too Behind the scenes revealed: The threat Ancelotti made to his players during the derby with Atletico

The injury suffered by Lucas Vazquez in the derby against Atletico Madrid will leave him out for 2-3 weeks, so Ancelotti will not have a right-back available. 

It was widely assumed that Federico Valverde would be moved to that position, however, Cadena Cope has reported that Ancelotti is planning to place Ferland Mendy in that position. 

The Frenchman once played as a right-back against Eibar under Zinedine Zidane, but it is not his natural position. 

Should Ancelotti decide to go ahead with this idea, then Dani Ceballos and Jude Bellingham would be joined in midfield by Valverde./Telegraph/