Predicted Real Madrid lineup against Liverpool: Benzema, Rudiger to return; Alaba ruled out

Karim Benzema and Antonio Rudiger will return when Real Madrid take on Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

Real Madrid have a 5-2 lead in the tie and they will be hoping to complete the job in the second leg with a comfortable victory at home on Wednesday night. Liverpool are struggling for form and are depleted with injuries. Carlo Ancelotti will demand a strong showing from his players here.

It has been a disappointing domestic campaign for Real Madrid so far, and the UEFA Champions League is their only way of making amends. Los Blancos will be desperate to go all the way in the competition this season.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti has handed Real Madrid a major boost ahead of the crunch clash by declaring that Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos are fully fit to face Liverpool. Despite not training on Sunday, Benzema is ready to face Liverpool.

On the other hand, Kroos has fully recovered from his stomach bug and is ready to start for the home side. So David Alaba is the only injury worry for the Spanish giants ahead of this game. And during his pre-match press conference, Ancelotti provided a brief update.

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He said, “He’ll be at 100%. Despite not training on Sunday, he’s (Benzema) had some good sessions and he’s up for it. He (Kroos) did a great job against Espanyol. He’s in good physical condition and he’s fully recovered from his stomach bug now. He’s in the same place as the rest of the group, at full fitness.”

Real Madrid are likely to line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Thibaut Courtois in goal. Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy are likely to start as the full-backs here. And Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger will line up as the central defenders.

In the midfield three, Aurelien Tchouameni is set to start as the defensive midfielder with Toni Kroos and Luka Modric adding control and creativity alongside him. So Dani Ceballos and Eduardo Camavinga will be backup options on the bench.

Karim Benzema will look to repeat his goalscoring display against Liverpool from the first leg and he is set to lead the line. Vinicius Junior brought Real Madrid back into the game against Liverpool at Anfield when they were 2-0 down. And the Brazilian will be looking to make his mark once again. Federico Valverde is expected to start on the right flank.

Predicted Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Camavinga; Modric, Tchouameni, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr.