For the Champions League quarter-final clash between Arsenal and Real Madrid this Tuesday, Carlo Ancelotti is preparing a starting XI that will aim to secure a positive result.
Real Madrid will take on Arsenal’s Gunners this Tuesday at the Emirates Stadium. Having lost in La Liga at the weekend to Valencia, Ancelotti’s side will need to be extremely solid to deal with Mikel Arteta’s players, particularly Bukayo Saka. For this crucial match, the Italian manager will have to cope without several key players. Aurélien Tchouaméni, Dani Ceballos, Ferland Mendy, Andriy Lunin, and others are all unavailable.
Real Madrid’s probable starting XI
To compete, the Madrid coach will rely on experienced players such as Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo Goes, Vinicius, Rüdiger, Bellingham, and Federico Valverde. In his usual 4-3-3 formation, Carlo Ancelotti is expected to line up with Thibaut Courtois in goal. Having missed Real Madrid’s recent matches due to injury, the Belgian goalkeeper returns just in time for the clash against Arsenal.
In defence, the only uncertainty remains on the left side, where Fran Garcia and David Alaba were tested in the recent match. With the aim of solidifying the flank where Gunners star Bukayo Saka operates, Ancelotti is reportedly considering veteran Alaba. While he may not be as quick as Garcia, the Austrian defender is far more solid defensively and, thanks to his height, could be useful in aerial duels.
Still, the coaching staff will have time to decide between the two available full-backs. For the rest of the defence, Raul Asencio, Antonio Rüdiger, and Federico Valverde (as right-back) are expected to start. In midfield, Eduardo Camavinga is likely to replace Aurélien Tchouaméni, bringing physical strength to the battles in the centre of the pitch. Alongside him, Jude Bellingham and Luka Modrić should complete the trio.
To round out the line-up, the attacking trio of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes, and Kylian Mbappé will look to score goals and produce a performance similar to that against Manchester City in the first leg of the play-offs.
Probable full line-up:
Thibaut Courtois – Federico Valverde, Raul Asencio, Antonio Rüdiger, Fran/Alaba – Luka Modrić, Eduardo Camavinga, Jude Bellingham – Rodrygo Goes, Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Junior.
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