Real Madrid Vs. Pachuca Intercontinental Cup Final Starting Line ...

Carlo Ancelotti's starting XI for the Intercontinental Cup final on Wednesday against Pachuca has an ... [+] unexpected surprise.

Carlo Ancelotti's starting XI for the Intercontinental Cup final on Wednesday against Pachuca has an unexpected surprise.

Kylian Mbappe was just starting to hit form following struggles since completing a high-profile free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.

After Ancelotti admitted that his number 9 wasn't at his "best level" following a 2-1 defeat to Athletic Club in San Mames a fortnight ago, the Frenchman responded with fantastic goals in wins against Girona (3-0) domestically and Atalanta in the Champions League (3-2).

Mbappe scored the opening goal inside 10 minutes during the latter triumph in Bergamo, but then asked to be brought off 25 later.

Madrid confirmed an injury to the Ballon d'Or hopeful later on, and while Mbappe missed the 3-3 thriller at Rayo Vallecano Saturday night, he was always expected to at least make the trip to Qatar for the reintroduced Intercontinental Cup final.

What wasn't in the script is that Mbappe goes straight into the starting XI on the front line, with The Best winner Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo to his left and right.

This is the approach that Ancelotti will take, however, with Eduardo Camavinga a lone pivot behind more advanced midfielders Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde.

With Ferland Mendy nursing a knock, Fran Garcia is the left back and Lucas Vazquez is on the other defensive flank.

Aurelien Tchouameni and Toni Rudiger are the center back pairing, meaning that once again there is no starting space for breakout star Raul Asencio to help protect Thibaut Courtois' goal.

At a prematch press conference where he had to field a question about whether he's lost control of his players, Ancelotti insisted that his men come into the Intercontinental Cup final "more animated" than before and "better than a month ago".

"It's a unique match, a unique final. We're very excited," he stated about the fixture against Mexican opposition, which is a precursor of sorts to the redesigned Club World Cup that will take place in the United States this summer.

Real Madrid Starting XI Vs. Pachuca: Courtois; Fran, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Vazquez; Camavinga, Valverde, Bellingham; Vinicius, Mbappe, Rodrygo