What is Real Madrid’s possible starting lineup vs Celtic for today’s Champions League game?

Real Madrid travel to Celtic Park on matchday one of the 2022-23 Champions League group stage. The Spanish side set out on the quest to claim their fifteenth European Cup with Odriozola and Vallejo the only two players who failed to travel to Scotland.

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The last time ‘Los Blancos’ visited Celtic Park was 42 years ago, in the 1979-1980 season with the Spaniards losing 2-0 in Glasgow in the quarter-final of the European Cup. Goals from Santillana, Juanito and Stielike in the return leg saw the Spaniards advance 3-2 on aggregate.

Ancelotti admitted in the pre-match press conference that he may use the game as an opportunity to rotate the squad and we may see a different starting XI to the one from the LaLiga clash at the Bernabeu on Saturday. Possible changes could see Lucas Vazquez replacing Carvajal, Kroos and Rüdiger making a return to the starting XI, Valverde will take Rodrygo’s place and a Ceballos start would see Modric rested.

Possible Real Madrid XI vs Celtic

Ancelotti’s possible XI for the Champions League group stage opener could be: Courtois, Lucas Vázquez, Militao, Rüdiger, Mendy; Modric or Ceballos, Tchouameni, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema and Vinicius. The Italian coach traveled to Glasgow with 22 players in the squad, and will have 11 players on the bench: Lunin, Luis López, Carvajal, Nacho, Alaba, Camavinga, Ceballos or Modric, Rodrygo, Asensio, Hazard and Mariano.

Only Benzema and Courtois have played in every minute of the new season: 450 minutes, including the European Super Cup. Madrid’s quest to secure another major European triumph starts in Glasgow and it will be a far from easy task with Celtic, like Real Madrid boasting a 100% record in the start of the Scottish tpp flight with the ‘hoops’ buoyant following a 4-0 win over city rivals Glasgow Rangers at the weekend.