Real Madrid will be a buoyed bunch as they gear up to face Sporting CP in Matchday 5 of the UEFA Champions League. Los Blancos have a chance to go through and join the 5 teams to have already qualified for the next round.
Real have been given a hard time in the group stages by Borussia Dortmund who drew against them and have bettered their other results leaving the Spanish side with a very real possibility of finishing 2nd in the group. In the likely scenario that Dortmund win their match against Legia Warsaw and Real also win their fixture, the German side will still be ahead by 2 points which will help them dictate the match when the two sides meet in the last match of the group stage.
But Ronaldo and Co. will be looking at their own game and look to keep up the pressure on Tuchel’s side. Ronaldo will be making a sentimental return to Portugal where he will be facing his boyhood club Sporting CP. Although it will be an emotional moment for the Madrid derby hero, the Portuguese League leaders aren’t expected to pose much of a challenge to Zinedine Zidane’s boys.
A win will be top of the agenda for Madrid and it is widely believed the result will be one favouring the men in white.
PREDICTED REAL MADRID XI VS SPORTING CP (4-3-3)
DEFENCE
Keylor Navas will be buoyed by the clean sheet against Atletico Madrid in the weekend. He has been having a shaky season in goal and two back to back clean sheets would have been a welcome occurrence. Carvajal will be at right-back and will expect to spend most of his time in Sporting’s half. Marcelo will be at left-back and will be his usual uber-adventurous self. The centre-back pairing might see a change with a run out for their skipper Sergio Ramos who is returning from an injury. He will most likely partner Varane.
MIDFIELD
In light of injuries to Kroos and Casemiro, there were question marks over Real’s midfield. But Isco, Kovacic and Modric have stepped up admirably. But James Rodriguez might get a game with Isco being afforded a rest after an excellent display against Atletico. Modric and Kovacic might keep their places.
ATTACK
Ronaldo might shift to the flank after a successful experiment as a striker. With a difficult run of games to follow, Benzema might be afforded minutes to get his confidence back. Bale will be on the right-flank in case Benzema is played up top.
