Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid are all set to host Red Bull Salzburg in the penultimate matchday of the UEFA Champions League.
Defending champions Real Madrid have endured a poor UEFA Champions League campaign so far. At one point they were in danger of missing out on qualification to the next round, but a win in their last outing has kept them in the thick of things. All three points against Red Bull Salzburg will almost guarantee their participation in the next phase.
The home team have been far from their best this season. While they currently sit top of La Liga, they have been quite inconsistent. Having lost three out of their first six Champions League games, they have very low chances of securing a top-eight finish.
At this stage, there is priority is to win the remaining games, and they will be confident of doing that given the kind of form they have shown in recent fixtures. Meanwhile, the visitors have been struggling in the ongoing season. Red Bull Salzburg are fifth in the Austrian top flight, and they have lost five out of their six Champions League games leaving them 32nd on the points table.
With just two games remaining, Red Bull Salzburg will find it difficult to make it to the next round. They need to beat Real Madrid to stand any chance, and it surely won’t be easy as Los Blancos are also in desperate need of all three points. The Hard Tackle takes a close look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
Team News & Tactics
Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti’s team remain without the services of Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Carvajal, and Eder Militao. Meanwhile, Lucas Vazquez is suspended for this fixture, which means Federico Valverde might be asked to fill in at right-back.
The home side do have a boost as Vinicius Junior and Luka Modric are both back available after serving a suspension. The Italian manager will stick to the 4-2-3-1 formation, where Thibaut Courtois will take charge in goal. Valverde and Ferland Mendy should be the full-backs, while Raul Asencio will partner Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield.
In the centre of the park, Luka Modric will start alongside Dani Ceballos, who was one of their standout performer in their last league outing. The duo will look to control the tempo of the game. Jude Bellingham will continue in the number ten role. Vinicius will return on the left flank, and Rodrygo will take charge on the right. Kylian Mbappe will lead the line for Real Madrid against Red Bull Salzburg.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Modric, Ceballos; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius Junior; Mbappe
Red Bull Salzburg
The visitors will be without the services of Karim Konate and Maurits Kjaergaard because of long-term injuries. Meanwhile, the availability of Alexander Schlager, Bobby Clark, Amar Dedic, and Daouda Guindo remains doubtful.
Red Bull Salzburg will line up in a 4-4-2 formation, where Janis Blaswich should be in goal. Aleksa Terzic and Leandro Morgalla should be the full-backs, while Samson Baidoo should partner Kamil Piatkowski in the heart of the defence.
In the centre of the park, Moussa Yeo and Dorgeles Nene will feature in the wide areas, while Mads Bidstrup will partner with Nicolas Capaldo in a more central role. Oscar Gloukh should start alongside Petar Ratkov in the final third of the pitch.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Blaswich; Morgalla, Baidoo, Piatkowski, Terzic; Yeo, Capaldo, Bidstrup, Nene; Gloukh, Ratkov
Key Stats
- Real Madrid and Red Bull Salzburg have never squared up against each other in the Champions League.
- Los Blancos have found the back of the net in each of their last 32 UEFA Champions League home games.
- Carlo Ancelotti’s team lost their last Champions League home game to AC Milan but they have not lost consecutive home games in Europe in the last six years.
- The last Austrian team to travel to the Bernabeu were Sturm Graz back in 1998 when they got smashed 5-1.
- This game against Real Madrid will be Thomas Letsch’s first official game in charge of Salzburg since taking over from Pep Lijnders.
Player to Watch
Vinicius Junior
Vinicius Junior has played a massive part in all the success Real Madrid have had in the UEFA Champions League in recent seasons. The Brazilian international will now be looking to ensure his team secure a spot in the next round with a win here. Suspension in La Liga means he will be quite fresh for this fixture and having already contributed towards 24 goals, the 24-year-old will be eager to add to his tally.
Prediction
Real Madrid 3-1 Red Bull Salzburg
Real Madrid have bounced back in some fashion since their defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final. They have been on a roll in their last outing and should not have that big a problem going up against a Red Bull Salzburg team that has lost five out of their six UEFA Champions League games this season. The Hard Tackle predicts an easy 3-1 win for the home team.