CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Real Madrid’s potential starting XI for the Champions League game against Liverpool
Nacho and Tchouaméni are the talking points in Carlo’s side as Madrid look to build on their 3 goal advantage.
The big question that swirls around Carlo Ancelotti’s starting XI for the Champions League game against a wounded Liverpool (16:00 ET) is simple: who is the third midfielder, Camavinga or Tchouaméni? This conundrum is not something new, either, as the two Frenchmen have been vying for the same position since their return from the World Cup.
Camavinga, while Tchouaméni was injured, shone for a brief moment in that position, and Ancelotti was quick not to get too excited: “It is true that he makes some obvious mistakes, from time to time, but in the end he plays so well that you forget them”.
- More detail: Liverpool potential starting XI vs Real Madrid
Tchouaméni to pilot the pivot position
Despite this and despite everything, it is Tchouameni who, on a night where the margin of error is not allowed to exist, has the higher chance of making the final cut. Carletto is aware that the turbulent air that can surround Camavinga could well be counterproductive in a game that calls for clear skies and calm heads. In moments like these, Tchouaméni is your man.
Sorry, Camavinga, there’s no room here, either
The other issue for Ancelotti, albeit smaller than the midfield coin flip, is what to do at left back. Despite the fact that Mendy has managed to complete several consecutive training sessions and has been fully reintegrated as part of the squad, he is not yet ready to start and, above all, in a match of this magnitude.
Stopping Salah is, again, the big request of the night and the player who showed how to do so at Anfield was Nacho. His game in England immediately won him a place in the XI for the return leg and locked the second door to which Camavinga has a key. Because, let’s be honest, the other midfield positions are not up for debate: it’s a night for Modric and Kroos.
Benzema is fit, so Beznema plays
Up front, the captain returns: Karim Benzema, now fully recovered from his eighth injury of the season and after missing his 14th game of the season (a 3-0 win over Espanyol). This has, for obvious reasons, not been Benzema’s most consistent season on the pitch, but he arrives in ‘apparently’ good shape for the game, with that information, there is no debate as to what will happen: Benzema starts.
Non-Europeans with the most Champions League titles
Javier Mascherano (Argentina)
Two with Barcelona (2011 and 2015).
Adriano (Brazil)
Two with Barcelona (2011 and 2015).
James Rodríguez (Colombia)
Two with Real Madrid (2016 and 2017).
Danilo (Brazil)
Two with Real Madrid (2016 and 2017).
Rogelio Domínguez (Argentina)
Three with Real Madrid (1958,1959 and 1960).
Roberto Carlos (Brazil)
Three with Real Madrid (1998, 2000 and 2002).
Sávio (Brazil)
Three with Real Madrid (1998, 2000 and 2002).
Fernando Redondo (Argentina)
Three titles: two with Real Madrid (1998 and 2000) and one with AC Milán (2003).
Eto´o (Cameroon)
Three titles: two with Barcelona (2006 and 2009) and one with Inter (2010).
Dani Alves (Brazil)
Three with FC Barcelona (2009, 2011 and 2015).
Keylor Navas (Costa Rica)
Three with Real Madrid (2016, 2017 and 2018).
José Santamaría (Uruguay)
Four with Real Madrid (1958, 1959, 1960 and 1966).
Messi (Argentina)
Four with Barcelona (2006, 2009, 2011 and 2015).
Casemiro (Brazil)
Five with Real Madrid (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022).
Marcelo (Brazil)
Five with Real Madrid (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022)
His support players will be Valverde and Vinicius, as easy as that. There are no more dilemmas in defence either: in front of Courtois’ goal will be Carvajal, Militão and Rüdiger, along with the aforementioned Nacho. The finest outfit for a gala evening at the Santiago Bernabéu.
