CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Possible Real Madrid XI against Liverpool in the Champions League
Benzema has travelled to England but Ancelotti has to make changes to his Real Madrid midfield.
The Champions League anthem is once again playing for Real Madrid. Los Blancos return to the competition at a legendary ground, Anfield, as they face Liverpool in a repeat of last season’s final.
Midfielders Aurélien Tchouaméni and Toni Kroos have not travelled to England, but Carlo Ancelotti has taken Karim Benzema with him, despite the fact that the French striker was unable to play against Osasuna and mostly trained alone on Sunday. His presence in the squad is an indication that he has a good chance of starting on Tuesday.
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Camavinga and Ceballos in midfield
The problems for Ancelotti lie in midfield. Kroos and Tchouameni, two of the two regulars on the big nights, have not recovered in time as the German is suffering from gastroenteritis and the Frenchman has been struck down by the flu. Ancelotti looks likely to play Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Ceballos in midfield, with Fede Valverde, Karim Benzema and Vinícius in attack.
One of the few doubts in Ancelotti’s side was at right-back, but after the match against Osasuna, the Italian said: “Carvajal will play at Anfield”. The Leganés man will line up alongside Eder Militao, Antonio Rüdiger and David Alaba at the back, with Thibaut Courtois between the sticks.
Real Madrid’s possible starting XI against Liverpool at Anfield
The Real Madrid starting XI that Ancelotti could field at Anfield is as follows:
Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rüdiger, Alaba; Modric, Camavinga, Ceballos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius.
Ancelotti has taken 23 players to Liverpool, with four Castilla players in the matchday squad: Álvaro Rodríguez, Arribas, Mario Martín and goalkeeper Luis López. Lunin, Lucas Vázquez, Odriozola, Nacho, Vallejo, Hazard, Asensio and Rodrygo will also be on the bench on Tuesday.