Real Madrid will be looking to secure qualification to the knockout stages when they visit Poland to take on Legia Warsaw in the Champions League.
Los Blancos are the only undefeated team in La Liga this season, and with seven wins in their first ten games, they find themselves sitting atop the standings – two points ahead of second-placed FC Barcelona.
Zinedine Zidane’s side will go into the game against Legia Warsaw on the back of a good run of form and will be hoping to secure a berth in the Round of 16. Real sit alongside Borussia Dortmund with seven points at the top of Group F and wins for both teams could see the duo make it into the knockout stages.
However, Zidane will be without the services of a number of his key players for the game. Centre-backs Pepe and Sergio Ramos are ruled out through injury while Marcelo has not been named in the matchday squad. In midfield, the Frenchman will be missing the services of Luka Modric and Casemiro.
The hosts have picked up things off late and are enjoying a bit of a purple patch in their league. Despite the odds massively stacked against them, the Polish side will be looking to come away from the game with a positive result.
They were humiliated by Real in the game in September when the Spanish side ran out 5-1 winners. That result will undoubtedly be on the back of their heads as they build up for a crunch Champions League encounter.
Probable Lineups
Keylor Navas is expected to start between the sticks for Real Madrid with Raphael Varane and Nacho ahead of him. Dani Carvajal is expected to take up his station as a right-back with Fabio Coentrao on the other side.
In midfield, Marco Asensio and Isco are tipped to join Toni Kroos to form a trio. Given the abscence of Modric and Casemiro, it may be a good time for the fringe players to have a shot at redemption.
Up front, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo will be looking to take the attack to Legia from the right and left wings respectively. Centrally, Karim Benzema is likely to be given the nod over Alvaro Morata.
For the hosts, Arkadiusz Malarz is expected to be named as the goalkeeper against Madrid with Bartosz Bereszynski and Adam Hlousek starting as right and left full-backs.
In midfield, Tomasz Jodlowiec and Thibault Moulin will form a double divot providing protection to the back four. Miroslav Radovic is likely to be named as a number 10 and is set to play off lone striker Nemanja Nikolic.
Stats
- Legia Warsaw have been losing at both half time and full time in their last three Champions League matches.
- The Polish side have also shipped in at least two goals in each of their matches in Europe’s elite club competition this season.
- There have been at least three goals scored in each of Real’s Champions League games this season.
- Real are unbeaten in their last seven games in the Champions League.
- They have also scored at least two goals in each of their last three games in the competition this season.
Watch out for
Gareth Bale
The Wales superstar recently signed a contract extension at the Santiago Bernabeu and looks to be getting better with each passing season. With Cristiano Ronaldo arguably nearing the end of his prolific goal scoring exploits, Bale may be the man to bolster Real’s front line. The 27-year-old is gifted with exhilarating pace and a fantastic technical prowess and will be looking to put it to good use against Legia in the Champions League.
Prediction
Legia Warsaw 1-3 Real Madrid
Given Real Madrid’s injury worries in defence, they are likely to ship in a goal or two. That being said, their phenomenal attacking prowess does enough to cancel out their defensive frailties and it looks like the Spanish side will have a relatively easy outing on Wednesday.
