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The 2018/19 season will definitely mark the beginning of an era at Real Madrid as they will be commencing the competition sans the inspiring Cristiano Ronaldo for the first time in a decade.
Apart from the absence of the Portuguese megastar, Los Blancos will also have to cope with the unavailability of Zinedine Zidane who famously led them to three consecutive Champions League titles. Julen Lopetegui has taken the reins in the wake of his departure.
As such, Real Madrid have undergone a massive turnaround since their sensational win in the Champions League final against Liverpool on 26 May 2018, which earned them their 13th Champions League title.
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Consequently, the serious changes made in the club's roster have made the upcoming season all the more intriguing as to whether Real Madrid will be able to live up to their billing or not.
On that note, let us take a look at the most likely starting XI the Spanish giants will field in the coming season.
Note: The lineup will feature a 4-3-3 formation for the same.
Also Read: 5 realistic signings that can help Real Madrid win the treble next season
Goalkeeper
Thibaut Courtois
Real Madrid have long been mired in the pursuit of a top-quality goalkeeper that can be dated back to 2014 when David De Gea's deal fell through in view of a faulty fax machine. And the most significant reason of this is Keylor Navas' stint at Santiago Bernabeu, which has not been as smooth as it was expected to be.
No doubt that the Costa Rican is a talented goalkeeper but his erratic nature and occasional howlers have somehow dented that magnetic stature. In the ongoing transfer market, Real Madrid are finally closing in on a top-grade goalkeeper - Thibaut Courtois.
As per reports, Real Madrid have almost signed the Belgian, who latterly won the Golden Glove award in Russia.
Also Read: 4 most likely replacements for Thibaut Courtois at Chelsea
Courtois has only one year remaining on his deal at Stamford Bridge and has betrayed little intimation in recent months that he will extend his contract, further boosting Real Madrid's interest.
With his arrival, it goes without saying that he will usurp the first-choice status between the sticks.
Centre-backs
Sergio Ramos
Over the years, Sergio Ramos has established himself as the embodiment of the trophy-lusting club he plays for as Mr Real Madrid.
An absolutely Rolls-Royce of a centre-back, there's no denying that the Spaniard has been an influential figure in Real Madrid's success in the seasons gone by. His presence on the field has not only helped Los Blancos at the back but has also helped them pull off life-saving goals many a time.
Raphaël Varane
The tall, formidable yet youthful existence of Raphael Varane in the Real Madrid's backline has saved the club's a** on innumerable occasions.
He recently had a stellar World Cup campaign with the French national team, where he once again showed his true mettle by virtue of his sterling performances in Russia. A complete brick wall at the back, Varane is the perfect foil for Sergio Ramos in Real Madrid's defence as both the World Cup-winning centre-backs get on pretty well.
Valued at £72m, the 25-year-old is the most valuable defender in the world right now.
Also Read: 7 most valuable defenders in the world right now
Full-backs
Dani Carvajal
Real Madrid's new acquisition, Alvaro Odriozola, will definitely provide healthy competition for Carvajal to stamp his authority as the first choice for the right-back berth, but he is expected to play as second fiddle to the Spaniard at least when the season starts.
Carvajal is one of the unsung heroes of Real Madrid whose invaluable contributions largely go unacknowledged. Nevertheless, his absence was immensely felt at Los Blancos when he was ruled out of action owing to a viral pericardium infection.
During that period, Real Madrid had to integrate the inexpert Achraf Hakimi into the side, whose inexperience adversely affected Real Madrid.
Marcelo
Following Cristiano Ronaldo's departure, Marcelo had been linked with a move away from Real Madrid, but it is highly unlikely that the Brazilian will put his 12-year spell at Real Madrid just for the sake of a friendship.
All the same, the rumours fizzled out just days after Ronaldo's transfer took place and the 30-year-old will be present at Santiago Bernabeu next season in all likelihood. And is another defensive mainstay whose position is a dead certainty thanks to Theo Hernandez's inconsistent form in the storied white kit.
Midfielders
Luka Modric, Casemiro and Toni Kroos
Real Madrid are one of the few clubs in the football world who can boast of a first-rate midfield in their squad, which is the driving force of the club. The vast amount of talent in the club's midfield is the chief reason why Julen Lopetegui did not feel the need to acquire any new midfielder this summer.
While it is improbable that the incoming Spanish manager will disobey his predecessor, there are chances that Lopetegui will rotate the midfield and give more playing time to the likes of Marcos Llorente and Dani Ceballos, who have the potential to become future stars.
Wingers
Gareth Bale
With hindsight, it's safe to say that the 2017-18 season was a substandard one for Gareth Bale as recurring injury problems blighted his chances of success. As a result, he saw himself fall down the pecking order under Zidane, with his berth being usurped by the talented duo of Lucas Vázquez and Marco Asensio.
Nevertheless, Cristiano Ronaldo's exit has opened up playing minutes for many overlooked players at Real Madrid and Gareth Bale is one of them. Consequently, he has reportedly decided to stay at Real Madrid and will play a key role under Julen Lopetegui.
Eden Hazard
After Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from Real Madrid, Eden Hazard's transfer to Los Blancos has gained some serious traction.
Also Read: 5 players Real Madrid can target instead of Eden Hazard
Real Madrid are currently in pole position to lure him to Santiago Bernabeu as they face stiff competition for the Belgium international. If the deal is materialized, Hazard would be a profound presence on the left flank.
Granted that he won't score as many goals as Cristiano Ronaldo, but he can surely whip in some heaven-sent neat assists for his team-mates.
Striker
Karim Benzema
By virtue of a torrid season for Real Madrid, Karim Benzema found himself in the firing line for the most part of the last year. And that was one of the reasons why rumours linking him with a move to Serie A caught fire in recent times.
However, the Frenchman looks all set to continue his 9-year stint at the Spanish capital and is targeting 'history' in the upcoming season.
"On a personal level, I'll be looking to have a better season than I did last time around and continue to etch my name into the club's history books," the 30-year-old told the club's website.
