Marcelo and Luka Modric are expected to return while Gareth Bale is in contention to start for Real Madrid’s Champion League clash with PSG.
Real Madrid will be aiming to book their place in the Round of 16 when they play hosts to PSG at the Bernabeu for their fifth Champions League Group A outing on Tuesday. And, Zinedine Zidane has nearly all his regulars at his disposal ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Thibaut Courtois is expected to keep his place in the Real Madrid goal, with PSG loanee Alphonse Areola being his backup. The defence is only likely to see one change, with Marcelo likely to return for the first time since the 6-0 thrashing of Galatasaray on Matchday 4.
Marcelo will replace Ferland Mendy on the left side of the Real Madrid defence, with Dani Carvajal starting on the opposite flank. Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos ought to continue their central defensive partnership, with Eder Militao missing out once again.
? This is our 19-man squad for tomorrow’s match against @PSG_English! #RMUCL pic.twitter.com/XuDPPNzVcP
— Real Madrid C.F. ???? (@realmadriden) November 25, 2019
Up ahead in midfield, Toni Kroos is expected to be named in the starting lineup after being given a bit of a breather this past weekend against Real Sociedad. Who Kroos replaces, though, is the difficulty in Zidane’s decision, with both Luka Modric and Federico Valverde impressing lately.
With the Real Madrid boss choosing to rotate his midfielders lately, Valverde could be the player to make way for Kroos, with Modric and Casemiro giving him company in the middle of the park. Zidane did have words of praise for Valverde during his pre-match press conference, and another player who has produced stirring performances in recent outings, Rodrygo Goes.
“They have shown that they are prepared for Real Madrid’s challenge and have the level to be part of this squad. They’ve had their chances and they’ve done very well. I’m not surprised. They are young, but they have a lot of energy, enthusiasm and desire to progress. It’s good to see them evolve like that.”
Rodrygo will hope to keep hold of his place against PSG, although Gareth Bale is also in contention to make the starting lineup. Bale has been picked in the squad to face PSG by Zidane, who chose to remain coy when asked about whether the Welshman would start on Tuesday.
“You’ll see tomorrow if he’s a starter or not. He’s with us and he’s here to play a football match tomorrow.”
Bale, though, is likely to be pipped by Rodrygo to start on the right side of the Real Madrid attack, with Eden Hazard and Karim Benzema filling in the other two spots upfront.
Predicted Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Rodrygo, Benzema, Hazard
