Real Madrid hand Endrick first start since summer arrival
Real Madrid forward Endrick has been given his first start by coach Carlo Ancelotti, named in the lineup to face Lille in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Endrick completed his long-awaited arrival in Spain over the summer after celebrating his 18th birthday. The teen prodigy had previously agreed the move when he was just 16, having emerged as a potential superstar of the future with Brazilian club Palmeiras.
But with competition for attacking places from Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo, game time had so far been limited to substitute appearances, typically under ten minutes.
Endrick scored his first Madrid goal came against Real Valladolid on his La Liga debut in August. He also netted on Champions League matchday one in a victory over Stuttgart.
Ancelotti opted to leave both Mbappe and Rodrygo on the bench for the trip to France, handing Endrick his opportunity to walk out with the team as a starter.
There was also a return for Eduardo Camavinga. The French midfielder had previously picked up an injury in training before the UEFA Super Cup and was yet to feature. He returned to the matchday squad for the city derby against Atletico Madrid but stayed on the bench.
Madrid are without Thibaut Courtois due to a leg muscle injury he suffered in the derby, with Andriy Lunin returning to the lineup after losing his place last season once Courtois returned to fitness from a previous injury absence. Fran Garcia did make the matchday squad, though, despite being on the receiving end of a nasty challenge from Marcos Llorente at the weekend.
The reigning European champions went into the game looking to join a select group of clubs that have taken maximum points from the first two matchdays.