Luka Modric will return to the Real Madrid starting lineup against AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League clash at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.
Real Madrid will aim to return to winning ways when they welcome AC Milan to the Santiago Bernabeu in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night. And Carlo Ancelotti has greeted a positive update on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Rodrygo has returned to the matchday squad after recovering from a muscle injury in his right leg. While the Brazilian international was expected to remain unavailable until after the international break, he has stepped up his recovery to be part of the group to take on AC Milan.
However, Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba, and Dani Carvajal remain on the sidelines, with Courtois the only player close to returning. Meanwhile, Ancelotti did not provide any team news update during his pre-match press conference, although he discussed Vinicius Junior and how he felt after missing the Ballon d’Or.
The Real Madrid manager said, “He’s sad, like all of us. We understand what’s going on. Unfortunately we’ve had more time to prepare for this game and, in that sense, he’s trained well, like everyone else. He’s sad, but not because he didn’t win the Ballon d’Or.”
“It’s over now, we congratulate all the winners and that’s it. My Ballon d’Or was awarded to me on 1 June, when we won the European Cup. It’s been a difficult week because the atmosphere is unusual. However, we’re not sad because of that, the atmosphere is different because of what’s happening in Spain.”
Real Madrid will line up in a 4-4-2 formation with a midfield diamond when they host AC Milan at the Santiago Bernabeu this midweek. Andriy Lunin will take his spot between the sticks in Courtois’s absence. The backline should not see a change, with Lucas Vazquez, Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, and Ferland Mendy retaining their places.
As for the midfield unit, Aurelien Tchouameni might drop to the bench, with Luka Modric replacing him. The veteran Croatian playmaker will join Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, and Jude Bellingham in the middle of the park. Finally, Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe will be the two attackers, with Rodrygo missing out.
Predicted Real Madrid XI: Lunin; Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga, Modric; Bellingham; Vinicius, Mbappe
