Matches
Trent, Guler start in a 4-4-2 – How Real Madrid can line up against Manchester City
Real Madrid will be looking to secure their place in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League as they take on Manchester City later tonight in the Round-of-16 second leg.
The Spanish heavyweights already have one foot through the door into the next round, having beaten the Cityzens 3-0 in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Now, it is all about building on that and ensuring that the door is fully closed on Pep Guardiola & co. tonight at the Etihad Stadium.
Real Madrid warmed up for the match with a big 4-1 win over Elche in La Liga at the weekend, while Manchester City stumbled their way to a 1-1 draw against West Ham United in the Premier League.
However, the English giants have already beaten Los Blancos once this season and will be backed by their home support as they look to mount a historic comeback.
Real Madrid, for their part, have been boosted by the return to fitness of superstar forward Kylian Mbappe for the game. Meanwhile, Alvaro Carreras is also back in the squad, although his readiness for tonight’s clash remains uncertain.
Jude Bellingham has travelled with the team as well, but is not ready to play. Meanwhile, Raul Asencio, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Dani Ceballos, and Rodrygo Goes are all out injured.
With that out of the way, here’s how Real Madrid are likely to set up against Manchester City tonight to seal their berth in the Champions League quarterfinals.
Defence
Thibaut Courtois is one of Real Madrid’s most important players and is a certainty to start in goal, hoping to keep another clean sheet like he did in the first leg.
Meanwhile, there will be a change at right-back as Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to replace Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal, who started against Elche over the weekend. The summer signing will be aiming to make an impact on his return to England.
As for the left side, Fran Garcia is set to hold on to his place in the side, given that Mendy is out and Carreras’ fitness remains a concern.
Antonio Rudiger and Dean Huijsen, who did a solid job of keeping Erling Haaland quiet in the first leg, will once again be tasked with neutralising the Norwegian phenom.
Midfield
Federico Valverde was the star of the show in the first leg, scoring a brilliant first-half hat-trick that killed Manchester City off on the night. He will once again start on the right side of the midfield four and captain the team.
Meanwhile, Arda Guler is expected to return to the starting XI after featuring as a substitute against Elche and scoring a worldie from inside his own half.
The young Turkish international will provide the creative essence for the team going forward, while his partner, Aurelien Tchouameni, will be tasked with holding down the fort in the centre.
Despite Eduardo Camavinga returning to fitness and starting against Elche over the weekend, teenage gem Thiago Pitarch is set to start as the fourth midfielder for Real Madrid once more, making it his fifth start in a row.
Attack
Even though Mbappe has been declared fit for the game, it would be imprudent of Arbeloa to take a risk with the French superstar’s long-term fitness.
As such, Real Madrid are once again expected to line up with the front two of Vinicius Jr. and Brahim Diaz like in the last three games.
Gonzalo Garcia and Franco Mastantuono will be options from the bench for the manager.
Following a three-week hiatus due to the international break, Real Madrid are back in action later tonight as they host Villarreal in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Spanish capital giants find themselves under intense pressure, having succumbed to a defeat to Atletico Madrid in the derby right before the break.
The result has left Jose Mourinho & co. trailing arch-rivals FC Barcelona by six points, with the Catalans sitting comfortably at the top of the table, having won all of their matches so far.
Therefore, Real Madrid have no margin for error as they take on Villarreal, knowing that another slip-up could put further distance between themselves and Hansi Flick’s men.
The good news for Mourinho is that he has recovered some of his injured stars as Kylian Mbappe and Ibrahima Konate are back to fitness after returning from international duty with minor injuries.
Furthermore, Federico Valverde, who suffered an injury in the derby, has also recovered and been included in the squad list to face the Yellow Submarine.
However, Eder Militao remains unavailable, along with Ferland Mendy, Raul Asencio, and Rodrygo Goes. Dean Huijsen also misses out through suspension.
Here’s how Real Madrid could take the field at the Santiago Bernabeu against Villarreal.
Defence
Thibaut Courtois will man the goal as usual for Real Madrid and will be hoping to keep a clean sheet, having not managed a single one in their last five matches.
Meanwhile, in defence, Ibrahima Konate is expected to start from the get-go despite only recently recovering from a knock, given the absences in defence. Partnering the summer signing will be veteran defender Antonio Rudiger.
There is intense competition at right-back, but Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to edge out Denzel Dumfries for the starting spot, considering that he had a lighter workload during the international break compared to the Dutchman.
On the opposite side, Alvaro Carreras is expected to get the nod ahead of summer signing Marc Cucurella, who was heavily involved with Spain during the international window.
Midfield
Mourinho has yet to figure out his best midfield combination as Real Madrid look for ways to control and dictate matches.
While Fede Valverde has started each of Real Madrid’s games so far, he is only returning from a considerably serious ankle injury and might not be risked from the start.
This should pave the way for veteran star Bernardo Silva to start in the centre of the park, from where he will hope to provide the team with creativity and vision.
Partnering the Portuguese international will be Aurelien Tchouameni, who has worked hard during the international break to regain his peak fitness and rhythm.
Eduardo Camavinga, who impressed for France under Zinedine Zidane, will have minutes off the bench.
Jude Bellingham has been Real Madrid’s best player so far this season and will line up as the attacking midfielder.
Attack
There has been a lot of talk surrounding Vinicius Jr and his poor form and the possibility that Mourinho could decide to bench the Brazilian. However, for now, the superstar winger is expected to start against Villarreal on the left flank.
On the right side of the attack, Arda Guler is expected to get the nod from the get-go, meaning marquee summer signing Yan Diomande will have to wait for his opportunity.
Kylian Mbappe, despite only recently recovering from an injury, will be leading the line for Real Madrid tonight at the Santiago Bernabeu.
