Real Madrid vs PSG: Madrid starting XI for Champions League clash
Madrid welcome Mauricio Pochettino's PSG side to the Santiago Bernabéu for their last 16 second leg tie. We take a look at who will start for Los Blancos on the night.
Real Madrid come into Wednesday's crunch clash with PSG "full of confidence", according to manager Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian coach was thrilled with his side's performance after they dispatched Real Sociedad 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday.
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Madrid host Mauricio Pochettino's side in the second leg of the last 16 of the Champions League with a place in the last eight at stake. They lost the first leg 1-0 in Paris after Kylian Mbappé grabbed a late winner for the Ligue 1 side.
Madrid lose first leg
In the first leg, key players Ferland Mendy and Casemiro picked up yellow cards. Both have subsequently been ruled out of the second leg in Madrid. Ancelotti is also keeping an eye on the fitness of Toni Kroos, who missed the Real Sociedad game with a hamstring issue, but trained in the gym on Sunday.
Ancelotti will have to reorganise his defence. Versatile defender Nacho is likely to come into the starting eleven on Wednesday for the suspended Mendy. The question remains as to whether Ancelotti will play him at left-back or, as he has done in previous games, move David Alaba wide to allow Nacho to play centrally with Eder Militao.
Midfield changes
Madrid's engine room will also require some tweaking, because in addition to the the absence of Casemiro, questions remain around the fitness of Kroos. Fede Valverde, who did not play against Real Sociedad due to flu, is likely to be Ancelotti's choice to replace the Brazilian in front of the back four. If Kroos isn't back in time, Camavinga, who started and scored against Real Sociedad, could start his second game in four days.
Thibaut Courtois, who saved a penalty from Lionel Messi in the first leg, will start in goal. Rodrygo played in the right forward role against Real Sociedad but Asensio is expected to start alongside Karim Benzema and Vinicius in attack.
Real Madrid's confirmed starting XI vs PSG
Courtois; Carvajal, Militão, Alaba, Nacho; Valverde, Kroos, Modric; Vinicius Jr, Benzema, Asensio