Mallorca manager Joaquin Caparros apparently has something up his sleeve. He's fielding a team that Mallorca hasn't fielded together this year, and it looks like a 4-4-2. It could also be something more narrow that features Gonzalo Castro as a No. 10, but he's definitely playing two strikers, a rarity for opponents against Real Madrid. Jose Mourinho has opted to start Karim Benzema, leaving Gonzalo Higuain on the bench. Angel di Maria and Sami Khedira do not make the 18-man squad. Here are the lineups.
Mallorca Vs. Real Madrid, 2012 La Liga: Lineups
Mallorca Lineup (4-4-2): Aouate; Ramis, Chico, Caceres, Lopez; Victor, Tissone, Castro, Pereira; Hemed, Casadesus
Real Madrid Lineup (4-2-3-1): Casillas; Marcelo, Ramos, Pepe, Arbeloa; Alonso, Diarra; Callejon, Özil, Ronaldo; Benzema
Kickoff is at 2:00 p.m. ET, 8:00 p.m. local time from Mallorca. The home side will be hoping to catch Madrid looking ahead to their mid-week Clasico against Barcelona in Copa Del Rey.
For more on Los Merengues, check out Real Madrid blog Managing Madrid.
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