MX23RW : Monday, January 20 21:01:45| >> :120:7095:7095:
[monks data]
Real Madrid logo
Champions League | League Stage
Jan 22, 2025 at 8pm UK
Estadio Santiago Bernabeu
Red Bull Salzburg

Real Madrid
vs.
Salzburg

Real Madrid lineup vs. Salzburg: Predicted XI for must-win Champions League encounter

Mass casualties in midfield, at right-back: Real Madrid predicted lineup vs. Salzburg
© Imago
Sports Mole looks at how Real Madrid could line up for their Champions League encounter with Red Bull Salzburg on Wednesday.

Real Madrid are set to be short in numbers at full-back and in midfield ahead of the visit of Red Bull Salzburg to the Bernabeu in the Champions League on Wednesday.

A booking for Lucas Vazquez in the 3-2 win over Atalanta on matchday six paired with Dani Carvajal's season-ending knee injury means manager Carlo Ancelotti will need to experiment again, with no senior right-backs available to him.

Federico Valverde did play there away to Liverpool earlier in the campaign, and young Raul Asencio could fill in there, but he may be needed at centre-back with Aurelien Tchouameni a doubt with a leg injury.

Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga were the only two Real players absent from training on Monday morning, suggesting both will struggle to return in time for this one, and that will have knock-on effects in midfield too.

Fortunately, Luka Modric is available again after serving a domestic ban at the weekend, and the veteran Croat may be paired with Dani Ceballos in the engine room if Camavinga fails to make it.

Also making a return was David Alaba, who got 15 minutes off the bench at the weekend - his first bit of action since 2023, after suffering injury hell with an ACL tear that resulted in numerous complications and setbacks.

In attack, Vinicius Junior will also return to the side after a domestic ban, entering the fixture as Los Blancos' top scorer in Europe this season, with five goals in five games.

Vini Jr will flank Kylian Mbappe in the front three, and the summer signing has had an excellent week, scoring four goals in their three matches over the past 10 days.

Mbappe's form has compensated for Jude Bellingham's slight drop off since his late heroics against Valencia, but there is no doubt that the England international will start here, most likely in an advanced midfield role.

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Modric, Ceballos, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vini Jr

ID:563442:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect3849:
Written by
Andrew Delaney
No Data Analysis info
Data Failed

Who will win Wednesday's Champions League clash between Real Madrid and Salzburg?

Real Madrid
Draw
Red Bull Salzburg
Real Madrid
90.0%
Draw
10.0%
Red Bull Salzburg
0.0%
10
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Athletic Bilbao midfielder Mikel Jauregizar on August 28, 2024
Read Next:
Tchouameni replacement? Real Madrid 'considering move' for La Liga midfielder
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool660018
2Barcelona650115
3B. Leverkusen641113
4Inter Milan641113
5Brest641113
6Arsenal641113
7Aston Villa641113
8Lille641113
9Bayern640212
10Dortmund640212
11Atletico640212
12AC Milan640212
13Atalanta632111
14Juventus632111
15Benfica631210
16Feyenoord631210
17Brugge631210
18Monaco631210
19Sporting Lisbon631210
20Real Madrid63039
21Celtic62319
22Man City62228
23PSV62228
24Dinamo Zagreb62228
25PSG62137
26Stuttgart62137
27Shakhtar61144
28Sparta Prague61144
29Sturm Graz61053
30Girona61053
31Red Star61053
32Salzburg61053
33Bologna60242
34RB Leipzig60060
35Slovan Bratislava60060
36Young Boys60060


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!