Real Madrid's Guler looks to impress Ancelotti in Celta start

Real Madrid host Celta Vigo on Sunday afternoon at the Santiago Bernabeu, desperate for three points to keep them in the title hunt against Barcelona. The Catalans extended their lead at the top of the standings to seven points following their 2-1 win away at Real Valladolid.

The match presents itself as a big opportunity for Arda Guler to impress the club after Carlo Ancelotti included him in the starting lineup. The 20-year-old talent has been limited to a peripheral role since joining Real Madrid in 2023, seeing his 34 appearances this term mostly come off the bench.

Motivated by a desire to make his breakthrough into the team, Guler will be keen to put on a show and provide for the Merengues after assisting and scoring in his last two matches against Barca in the Copa del Rey final and Getafe in La Liga, respectively.

Guler has been linked to a move away from the Spanish capital due to his lack of game time, but the Turkey international insists that he is optimistic about his long-term future at Real Madrid. "They gave me a plan and I still believe in it," he reiterated last month.

Real Madrid's starting XI (4-3-3): Courtois (GK); Vazquez, Tchouameni, Asencio, Garcia; Valverde, Ceballos, Bellingham; Guler, Mbappe, Vinicius.

Celta Vigo's starting XI (3-4-3): Guaita (GK); Rodriguez, Lago, Alonso; Carreira, Sotelo, Beltran, Mingueza; Lopez, Iglesias, Gonzalez.