MX23RW : Friday, November 22 07:44:50| >> :120:37299:37299:
[monks data]
Attendance: 77,459
Real Madrid logo
Champions League | Semi-Finals
May 1, 2018 at 7.45pm UK
 
Bayern logo

2-2

Benzema (11', 46')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Kimmich (3'), Rodriguez (63')

Team News: Mateo Kovacic preferred to Casemiro as Real Madrid welcome Bayern Munich

Team News: Mateo Kovacic preferred to Casemiro
© Offside
Mateo Kovacic is a surprise inclusion for Real Madrid as they welcome Bayern Munich to the Bernabeu for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final.

Mateo Kovacic has been selected ahead of Casemiro in Real Madrid's starting lineup for this evening's Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich.

The 23-year-old, used for an hour in the win over Leganes last time out, starts a European match for just the fourth time this season.

Casemiro drops down to the bench for a Madrid side that also includes Lucas Vazquez at right-back, with Nacho Fernandez and Dani Carvajal both out injured.

Elsewhere, star man Cristiano Ronaldo is restored up top after being given a weekend off, but there is once again no place for Gareth Bale as Marco Asensio and Karim Benzema are given the nod.

The visitors have a number of injury problems to contend with, meanwhile, finding themselves without Arturo Vidal, Arjen Robben, Jerome Boateng, Kingsley Coman, Manuel Neuer and now Javi Martinez for his huge fixture.

In the absence of the reliable Martinez, who is at least deemed fit enough for a place among the subs, Corentin Tolisso and Thiago Alcantara are expected to link up in central midfield.

Robert Lewandowski leads the Bayern line as expected, aiming to build on a record that has seen him score 39 times in all competitions this season, while James Rodriguez starts against his parent club.

Bayern show four changes from last week's first leg, which finished 2-1 to back-to-back champions Madrid.

Real Madrid: Navas; Vazquez, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Modric, Kovacic, Kroos; Asensio, Benzema, Ronaldo
Subs: Casilla, Nacho, Bale, Casemiro, Theo Hernandez, Mayoral, Ceballos

Bayern Munich: Ulreich; Kimmich, Hummels, Sule, Alaba; Thiago; Muller, Tolisso, James, Ribery; Lewandowski
Subs: Starke, Wagner, Martinez, Rafinha, Mai, Rudy, Dorsch

Follow all of the action as it unfolds at the Bernabeu with Sports Mole's live text coverage right here.

ID:324857: cacheID:324857:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4987:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
James Rodriguez in action for Bayern Munich on November 4, 2017
Read Next:
How Bayern could line up against Madrid
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Steelers
19-24
Browns
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool440012
2Sporting Lisbon431010
3Brest431010
4Inter Milan431010
5Monaco431010
6Barcelona43019
7Dortmund43019
8Aston Villa43019
9Atalanta42208
10Juventus42117
11Lille42117
12Man City42117
13Arsenal42117
14B. Leverkusen42117
15Celtic42117
16Dinamo Zagreb42117
17AC Milan42026
18Bayern42026
19Benfica42026
20Feyenoord42026
21Real Madrid42026
22Brugge42026
23Atletico42026
24PSV41215
25Sparta Prague41124
26Stuttgart41124
27PSG41124
28Shakhtar41124
29Girona41033
30Salzburg41033
31Bologna40131
32RB Leipzig40040
33Sturm Graz40040
34Young Boys40040
35Red Star40040
36Slovan Bratislava40040


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!