Real Madrid will be making the highly anticipated trip to Italy to square off against Atalanta at the Atleti Azzurri d’Italia Stadium on Wednesday evening for their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 fixture. This will be the first-ever competitive meeting between the two sides and the eyes of the world will be glued to this game.
Los Blancos are heading into this fixture with several key first-team members missing due to injuries like Eden Hazard, Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema and Dani Carvajal. Additionally, Zidane will not be able to deploy the likes of Federico Valverde, Rodrygo, Marcelo, Alvaro Odriozola and Eder Militao who are also nursing injuries at the Valdebebas sick-bay.
After two disappointing UEFA Champions League campaigns, Real Madrid would be gunning for nothing short of a convincing victory over the course of the two legs against Atalanta. Here’s how Real Madrid could take to the field on Wednesday evening –
Real Madrid Predicted Line Up Against Atalanta
Defence
Thibaut Courtois will be taking command between the sticks for Zinedine Zidane. The goalie has held three clean sheets on the bounce and a similar tale is expected out of the Belgian against Atalanta in Italy. Lucas Vasquez will be starting at the right-back spot with both Carvajal and Odriozola out injured. Raphael Varane will be in charge of leading Real’s back-line in the absence of Sergio Ramos. Nacho Fernandez will be deputising for Ramos at the centre back position, as he has on several occasions this season. The injury to Marcelo leaves Ferland Mendy as the only suitable candidate for the left-back slot.
Midfield
Real Madrid will not be leaving any stone unturned on Wednesday evening. The club’s most reliable, trusted and successful midfield trident of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro will be taking to the field at the Atleti Azzurri d’Italia Stadium. Luka Modric and Toni Kroos have been exceptional for Los Blancos this season and Zidane will be wanting an inspiring performance from them. Casemiro will be shouldering the responsibility of keeping the Atalanta attackers at bay along with the make-shift back-line.
Attack
Marco Asensio will be starting at the right flank. The Spaniard has looked sharp in the past couple of outings and a massive European night seems incoming from Asensio. Mariano will be leading the Real Madrid attack line in the absence of Karim Benzema. The striker has not scored a lot of goals this season but has the knack of scoring at crucial times as he has against Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund in the past. Vinicius Jr will be starting on the left-hand side of the attacking trio.
Real Madrid Predicted Line Up Against Atalanta
