Real Madrid is in the middle of one of those moments that can change the course of the whole season. A moment that began this weekend with the league draw against Atlético Madrid, which leaves the Whites still top of LaLiga EA Sports. However, this has only just begun.
And it will be in the Champions League where the Whites will be putting their lives on the line. And to make matters worse, they will do so in a tie against Manchester City, in what has already become a new European classic. It is true that it will be an atypical confrontation, since both teams are far from their best level, but it is still a tie in which one of the two big favorites will be left out.
Real Madrid will visit the Etihad without their first-choice defenders
It is a clash in which, moreover, Carlo Ancelotti will have to perform some real juggling to put his team together, especially in relation to the defence. This has been the case in recent weeks, but has been made even more complicated by the new injury to Lucas Vázquez, which adds to Carletto‘s list of problems.
An injury that joins the already known ones of Alaba and Rüdiger, and that leaves the Whites short-handed, at least as far as the first leg at the Etihad is concerned. And the new injury to the full-back not only affects the make-up of the back line, but also that of the midfield, as everything points to Fede Valverde taking his place.
An unusual position for the Uruguayan, in which he has only been tested once this season, but which, given his enormous versatility, promises to be a guarantee at right back. In the rest of the defense, Ancelotti does not have many more options than the ones he used against Atleti, with Tchouaméni and Asencio almost certainly forming the center of the defense, with the only doubt being whether the left back will be Fran García or Mendy.
However, the doubts do not end in the defensive area. The move of Valverde to full-back raises questions about the double pivot that Ancelotti will bring out at the Etihad. A double pivot in which Dani Ceballos is the only certainty, leaving the question of who will be his partner, which will be one between an Eduardo Camavinga fresh from injury, or the ever-present Luka Modric.
Where there is no doubt is in the offensive department. Barring any last-minute surprises, Real Madrid’s attacking line-up will be Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vinícius and Mbappé, with all the necessary firepower up front to try and resolve a tie that promises to be very complex on individual merit.
The most likely Real Madrid line-up against City
With all this in mind, the most probable Real Madrid line-up would be as follows:
Probable Real Madrid line-up: Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Tchouameni, Mendy; Ceballos, Camavinga; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius Junior; Mbappé.