Espanyol, Valencia, Barcelona, and Atheltic in the league, and Brugge in the Champions League. This is the calendar that awaits Real Madrid after the visit to Alavés on Saturday 30th November. It is a demanding month for Los Blancos where they will have to rotate to the maximum.
Zidane knows it, so he will not hesitate in selecting a totally different starting XI for the match this Saturday, a lineup compiled of less known faces whilst keeping the regulars for more important matches.
Without looking too far in front, the 'Clásico' on 18th December will be giving the Zidane sleepless nights. It is a crucial game in the fight for top spot and he will hope to have a full squad, even Eden Hazard who got injured against PSG.
In this team made up of Real Madrid outcasts, one of the players that Zidane will try to protect to the maximum is Casemiro, who has played practically every match, but who is just a yellow card away from missing the next match due to suspension.
He could be hence strategically played and if he gets booked the cards would be reset for the match at the Camp Nou, or he could be kept for the most important games in December.
That is why it won't be strange to see the outcasts play against Alavés. Players such as Mendy, Vinicius, Rodrygo, Odriozola, Jovic, Isco, Militao, Nacho, Brahim (who has only played 18 minutes), and even Areola. Zidane will decide.