Real Madrid confirmed line-up for AC Milan in box office UCL clash

After the postponement of Real Madrid’s weekend LaLiga clash at Valencia, which was called off in the wake of deadly flooding on the east coast of Spain, Los Blancos return to action today in the Champions League.

Madrid host AC Milan, a fellow great of the European Cup, in a matchday-four clash that isn’t without significance for the tournament holders. After all, Carlo Ancelotti’s men have already slipped up once so far in the new ‘league phase’ - losing away to Lille on matchday two - and face testing away assignments against Liverpool and Atalanta. In a clash between two clubs that boast a combined 22 continental crowns, three points are of paramount importance.

Having had a 10-day break between games, Madrid are able to field a close to full-strength line-up, with only Thibaut Courtois, Dani Carvajal and long-term casualty David Alaba in the sick bay. Ancelotti faced one chief selection dilemma: Luka Modric or Eduardo Camavinga. He went with experience.

Aurélien Tchouaméni, Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham are sure-fire picks in the midfield; and Modric brings greater ability on the ball but less physical presence than Camavinga. The Croatian got the nod over the Frenchman, given that he was a substitute in El Clásico - not to mention Madrid’s difficulties in controlling possession since Toni Kroos’s summer retirement.

With Courtois unavailable in goal, Andriy Lunin will again be handed the gloves - despite failing to convince in Madrid’s 4-0 thrashing by Barcelona a week and a half ago. The Ukrainian will be given the chance to bounce back in the Champions League, a competition in which he shone last season, most notably in away clashes with RB Leipzig and Manchester City.

In defence, Ancelotti goes with a tried and trusted back four of Lucas Vázquez, Éder Militão, Antonio Rüdiger and Ferland Mendy, while star forwards Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior will line up in attack. Mbappé heads into today’s clash on the back of heavy criticism for his poor display in El Clásico, while Vinícius is likely to be spurred on by his anger at missing out on the Men’s Ballon d’Or.

Real Madrid’s confirmed line-up vs AC Milan:

Lunin; Vázquez, Militão, Rüdiger, Mendy; Tchouaméni, Valverde, Modric, Bellingham; Mbappé, Vinícius

Real Madrid vs AC Milan: start time, how to watch

Held at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid an AC Milan’s Champions League clash kicks off today, Tuesday November 5, at 3:00 p.m. ET/12 noon PT. Viewers in the US will be able to watch the game on Paramount+, ViX, TUDN USA and UniMás.