Predicted XIs Real Madrid-RB Leipzig: Carlo Ancelotti to continue without captain in defence

Originally posted on Football Espana | By Ruairidh Barlow | Last updated 3/6/24

Real Madrid will feel confident going into the second leg of their Champions League clash on Wednesday at 21:00 CEST, feeling a one-goal advantage should be plenty of help to see them through to the next round. Los Blancos have not lost at the Santiago Bernabeu this season.

Ahead of the match Carlo Ancelotti explained that he had used Aurelien Tchouameni ahead of captain Nacho Fernandez in defence at Mestalla, as the veteran defender had not trained much during the week. Therein lies the uncertainty in Ancelotti’s line-up for Diario AS, who also question whether Luka Modric might be given an increasingly rare start over Toni Kroos.

Marca are more confident that Rudiger will be used with Tchouameni. They also believe it will be Kroos alongside Eduardo Camavinga and Fede Valverde. The Frenchman and Jude Bellingham are the only players that are in danger of suspension for the quarter-finals should they be booked. Despite Brahim Diaz’s match-winning performance in Leipzig, he is expected to warm the bench. Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba and Eder Militao remain out with cruciate ligament problems.

Leipzig are missing Mohamed Simakan through suspension and Luka Klostermann through injury, but are expected to go with an attacking line-up. Marco Rose knows his side will need to outscore Real Madrid, and as such, Dani Olmo, Lois Openda, Benjamin Sesko and Xavi Simons are all expected to start in a creative front four.

This article first appeared on Football Espana and was syndicated with permission.

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