Real Madrid returns to European footballing action this week with their scheduled Quarter-Final clash against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League. The 13-time Champions will be playing host to Liverpool in the first leg at the Alfredo de Stefano before making the trip to Anfield next week.
This clash is crucial for Zinedine Zidane’s men, who have faced elimination in the past two seasons even without reaching the competition’s Quarter-Finals. When these two teams last met in the Champions League, Los Blancos emerged victorious by a scoreline of 3-1 in the Final of the tournament.
Real Madrid will be heading into the fixture without a couple of key names, and it is certainly going to pinch them. Eden Hazard, Sergio Ramos, Dani Carvajal and Federico Valverde are not expected to be part of proceedings at the Alfredo de Stefano Stadium on Tuesday evening. Here’s how Real Madrid could take to the field against Liverpool.
Real Madrid Predicted Line-Up Against Liverpool
Defence
Thibaut Courtois will take command between the sticks after successfully holding onto another clean sheet against Eibar. Los Blancos are expected to retreat to a four-man backline with Lucas Vasquez starting at the right-back slot. Raphael Varane will be leading the back-line in the absence of Sergio Ramos and will be put to the test against a pacey Liverpool attack.
Nacho Fernandez will step in and deputise for Ramos as he has done on countless occasions this season. Ferland Mendy will be occupying the left-back slot, which means that Marcelo will once again make his way back to the substitutes bench.
Midfield
Zidane will not be too perplexed about team selection in midfield with Toni Kroos, Casemiro and Luka Modric being automatic starters in the current set-up. The trio has three UEFA Champions League titles on the bounce working in harmony and creating chaos for their opponents. Kroos and Modric will be seeking to take absolute command of things in the centre of the field. On the other hand, Casemiro will want to make his bodily presence felt each time Liverpool try to initiate an attack. It will be interesting to see Isco feature later on in the game.
Attack
Marco Asensio, who has been in red hot form lately, will start at the right-wing position. The Spaniard has bagged three goals in his last three appearances and will be looking to add to that tally on Tuesday evening against Liverpool. Karim Benzema will be occupying the number nine position without a shadow of a doubt.
The lanky striker is Real’s top goal-scorer this season, and his importance to the side can not be expressed in words. Vincius Jr, who dropped to the bench against Eibar in the league, will make his way back into the starting eleven. The Brazilian had an explosive evening in the UEFA Champions League last time around, and Zidane would want to make use of his pace at the Alfredo de Stefano Stadium midweek.
Real Madrid Predicted Line-Up Against Liverpool
