Real Madrid News
Official: Real Madrid starting lineup against Union Berlin | Champions League GW 6
Real Madrid have made the trip to Germany to lock horns against capital side Union Berlin at the Olympiastadion for the final round of the 2023/24 Champions League group stages.
The record UCL winners have already secured first place in the group with five wins in five games, but will want to see it off with a perfect record.
Carlo Ancelotti has made a few changes to the lineup that drew 1-1 against Real Betis in the league on the weekend.
Rodrygo starts up top alongside Joselu in a 4-3-1-2. Brahim Diaz has been benched for this encounter, but will likely come off the bench in the second half, most likely to rest the former, who has been playing regularly since Vinicius Jr got injured.
No rest for Jude Bellingham, as he spearheads the midfield, playing ahead of Dani Ceballos and Luka Modric, who start as the central midfielders.
Ancelotti has chosen to protect Toni Kroos, who is the closest no. 6 in the squad right now. In his place, Federico Valverde has been given the nod to play defensive midfield.
David Alaba retains his place in central defence, and will pair up alongside Nacho, who takes over from Antonio Rudiger. This duo will screen Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal.
Meanwhile, Lucas Vazquez provides width from the right side of the back-four, while Fran Garcia has been given the same responsibility on the left.
📋✅ Our starting 𝗫𝗜!
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) December 12, 2023
🆚 @fcunion_en#UCL pic.twitter.com/rKumwtRdDC
Rodrygo · Joselu
Bellingham
Ceballos · Valverde · Modric
Garcia · Alaba · Nacho · Vazquez
Kepa
Real Madrid opted to renew Antonio Rudiger’s contract this past summer to keep him at the club for one more season.
The 33-year-old veteran defender, though, has not been performing at his best, with physical problems taking their toll and age starting to catch up with him.
As such, the expectation is that Los Blancos will not extend his contract again when his current one expires on 30 June 2027.
Tottenham eye Antonio Rudiger
And, according to reports relayed by AS, Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a free-transfer swoop to sign Rudiger in the summer of next year.
The north London club are understood to be keen on reinforcing their backline next year and see the German defender as an option, given his experience in the Premier League and the fact that he would be available for free in the summer.
So far this season, Rudiger has played only five games for Real Madrid, amounting to a total of 396 minutes.
The 33-year-old has even chipped in with two goals, including the all-important winner in the 4-3 comeback victory over AS Roma on Wednesday night.
Time to move on?
Despite Rudiger being a hugely respected figure in the Real Madrid locker room, he is currently the third-choice centre-back for Jose Mourinho.
After all, summer signing Ibrahima Konate and Dean Huijsen have been preferred by the manager so far in the new season.
Moreover, with Eder Militao set to return imminently after a lengthy injury layoff, Rudiger’s game-time could be impacted further.
Given the situation and factoring in Real Madrid’s plans to sign another centre-back next summer, it is pretty much evident that Rudiger does not feature in the club’s plans for beyond this season.
As such, a separation of ways seems pretty likely when his contract expires, and Tottenham are now positioning themselves as early suitors to sign Rudiger as a free agent in 2027.
