Real Madrid will be without the services of five players for their third match of the 2023-24 La Liga campaign away to Celta Vigo on Friday night.

Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao are long-term absentees for Los Blancos, having recently undergone operations to repair ACL injuries, with the pair expected to miss the entire season.

Arda Guler has also recently undergone a knee procedure, although the summer arrival is expected back over the next few months depending on his recovery.

Dani Ceballos and Ferland Mendy, meanwhile, are making progress on the muscular problems that have seen them miss out in the early stages of the season.

However, Friday's match has come too soon for the duo, who will again be unavailable for selection.

© Reuters

Academy graduate Nico Paz is included in the squad, while Diego Pineiro, 19, features alongside Andriy Lunin and Kepa Arrizabalaga in the goalkeeping department.

During his pre-match press conference, Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that Kepa would come in for his debut in this match, replacing Lunin in the process.

"Yes, it will be Kepa," the Italian told reporters when quizzed on the goalkeeping situation for this game.

"I think the team is good. I see a quality squad, motivated, with a lot of enthusiasm, so that's the feeling I have at the moment."

© Reuters

Ancelotti also lavished praise on Jude Bellingham, who has scored three times in his first two appearances for Real Madrid this season following a move from Borussia Dortmund.

"At Dortmund, he proved to be a very vertical player, even if he started in a central position. He is a very intelligent player who moves very well without the ball," said the head coach before also addressing Aurelien Tchouameni, who has started this season in the first XI.

"I think Tchouameni is the same as he was in the first part of last season. After the World Cup he had an injury and wasn't able to get back to the level he is now. He is showing the same as in those first months. He is a very important pivot for our game," he added.

Bellingham is again expected to start in an advanced midfield role on Friday behind Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, with Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde alongside Tchouameni in midfield.

Real Madrid squad vs. Celta Vigo:

Lunin, Kepa, Pineiro; Carvajal, Alaba, Nacho, Odriozola, Vazquez, F Garcia, Rudiger; Bellingham, Kroos, Modric, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni, Paz; Vinicius, Rodrygo, Joselu, Brahim