Real Madrid enters Wednesday’s Champions League fixture grappling wiht a growing injury list and a recent dip in form,raising questions about their ability too secure a vital victory. The Spanish giants, currently third in La Liga, are looking to avoid a third consecutive match without a win and regain confidence ahead of a challenging December schedule. Manager Xabi Alonso faces tough decisions regarding team selection and tactics as he navigates the absences of several key players, including goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and defender Éder Militão, and navigates reported unrest within the locker room. A positive result is critical for both Champions League qualification and domestic momentum.
Real Madrid faces Wednesday’s match with several late injury concerns and players still working their way back to full fitness, adding to the challenges for manager Xabi Alonso. The team is in need of a victory to regain momentum after a recent string of disappointing results.
Alonso Facing Urgent Challenges
Table of Contents
Real Madrid returns to Champions League action at a difficult moment in the season. Following a loss to Liverpool and draws against Rayo Vallecano and Elche, Alonso’s squad needs a win to boost morale and secure a top-eight finish in the group stage, which guarantees direct qualification to the Round of 16 and avoids the playoff round.
Beyond the on-field performance, the team is reportedly experiencing tension between players and the coaching staff, impacting their overall form. A unified effort is crucial to turn the situation around.
Real Madrid Injury Updates
Real Madrid will be without several key players for Wednesday’s game. Courtois has been ruled out due to a gastrointestinal virus, preventing him from traveling with the team. In defense, Carvajal continues his recovery and is not expected back until late this year or early next. Militao and Alaba are also unavailable after picking up minor injuries during international duty. Rudiger has been training with the group but remains a doubt, while Huijsen is a late withdrawal.
The availability of Tchouaméni in midfield is also uncertain. He is expected to be included in the squad, but his participation is not guaranteed. A key player for Alonso, rushing him back could risk a setback. Mastantuono continues his recovery, having rejoined training, but still lacks match fitness.
Alonso’s Tactical Decisions
In the recent match against Elche, Xabi Alonso experimented with a five-man defense, but the team struggled both defensively and in midfield. Asencio and Gonzalo were among the few players to receive positive reviews for their work rate and attitude. If Tchouaméni is unable to play, Alonso must decide whether to utilize Camavinga as a defensive midfielder or opt for a more creative midfield setup. However, it appears the manager is leaning towards a four-man midfield featuring Güler, Valverde, Bellingham, and potentially Tchouaméni.
Alonso may also consider deploying Valverde at right-back and reverting to a 4-3-3 formation, adding more attacking firepower to a team that has struggled to find the back of the net recently.
Real Madrid Predicted Lineup
Portero
Defensas
- Álvaro Carreras
- Raúl Asencio
- Fran García
- Trent Alexander-Arnold
Centrocampistas
- Eduardo Camavinga or Aurélien Tchouaméni
- Jude Bellingham
- Fede Valverde
- Arda Güler
Delanteros
- Kylian Mbappé
- Vinicius Jr
