Karim Benzema will return, but Toni Kroos is ruled out for the game between Real Madrid and Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday.
Carlo Ancelotti will be aware of the fact that his side will need to do well in the first leg to get through to the quarter-finals. And Real Madrid will be fairly confident of grinding out a good result when they face Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, the visitors will be without the services of Aurelien Tchouameni, Toni Kroos, and Ferland Mendy. While Mendy is injured, Tchouameni will miss out with illness. Kroos is back in training. But the German has been left out of the squad travelling to Liverpool.
During his pre-match press conference, Ancelotti gave a team news update. And he confirmed a starter for the game while revealing Kroos’s return to training. The Italian tactician also revealed what has kept Tchouameni out of action.
"We are doing well. We go into the game at Anfield in good shape and with all the confidence in the world. Tchouameni had stomach problems. Karim I think will be fine for that game and Kroos is back in training. Carvajal is going to play at Anfield," Ancelotti said.
Real Madrid are likely to line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Thibaut Courtois in goal. Dani Carvajal and David Alaba are set to continue as the full-backs here. Eder Militao will partner Antonio Rudiger at the heart of the Real Madrid defence.
In the middle of the park, Eduardo Camavinga is likely to be deployed as the defensive midfielder in the absence of Tchouameni. Dani Ceballos will look to break the lines with his passing in the absence of Kroos. Luka Modric will look to control the tempo of the game and recycle possession.
Federico Valverde is likely to be deployed as the right-sided winger here. And he will look to add goals, creativity, and drive to the side. The Uruguayan international is expected to drop into the midfield from time to time to add more defensive cover and control. Karim Benzema is fit to lead the line for Real Madrid, with Vinicius Junior deployed on the left flank.
Predicted Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Alaba; Modric, Camavinga, Ceballos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr.