Casemiro is set to miss out but David Alaba and Ferland Mendy are expected to feature when Real Madrid face Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League.
Real Madrid will be aiming to take a step closer to the final of the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League when they lock horns with Manchester City in the first leg of their semi-final tie at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti has several injury issues to contend with leading up to the game. Eden Hazard, Luka Jovic and Mariano Diaz are out of the contest and have not travelled to England. Apart from the trio, key players Casemiro, David Alaba and Ferland Mendy are all recovering from injury issues but have arrived in Manchester.
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And, speaking his pre-match presser, Ancelotti revealed that Mendy should be available for selection while also expressing optimism about Alaba’s condition. However, Casemiro seems set to miss out for the La Liga leaders.
“Mendy is fine. There’s a question mark over Alaba and an even bigger question mark surrounding Casemiro. We’ll have to see how tonight’s training session goes. Casemiro is more of a doubt than Alaba. Casemiro is pushing hard to make it and is nearly there. If he doesn’t make it for this game, he’ll be involved in the next one,” Ancelotti said.
Mendy and Alaba should both make the cut to the starting lineup, given the importance of the game. Along with the duo, Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao, who missed the quarter-final second leg against Chelsea due to suspension, should complete the Real Madrid backline. Thibaut Courtois will be the man guarding the goal for the Merengues.
With Casemiro’s involvement a doubt, Federico Valverde could occupy the Brazilian’s No. 6 position against Manchester City at the Etihad. He will have seasoned campaigners Luka Modric and Toni Kroos as his partners in the middle of the park. Eduardo Camavinga has been in good form of late but will likely have to settle for a place on the bench.
With Valverde moving into his natural role in midfield, Rodrygo Goes, who has made some impressive cameos of late, should get the nod on the right flank for Real Madrid against Manchester City. Karim Benzema is the obvious choice in the No. 9 role for Los Blancos, with Vinicius Junior occupying the left wing.
Real Madrid Predicted XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy, Modric, Valverde, Kroos, Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius.
