Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich: Predicted XI
It's the 2nd leg of the much-anticipated clash between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich tonight. Los Blancos come into the game with a 2-1 lead over the Bavarians.
Real Madrid have scored in each of their last 34 matches and have won the last 34 games out of 40 at the Bernabeu. However, things are not going to that simple today.
Real Madrid team news:
Zidane has a few players missing from his squad due to injuries, and that has come as a huge blow to the Madridistas. Pepe is out with broken ribs while Varane has a hamstring injury hence the duo are out of the 2nd leg tonight.
Nacho is expected to fill the slot beside Sergio Ramos with Marcelo and Carvajal playing as the full-back. Keylor Navas is expected to start between the posts as usual.
Toni Kroos, Casemiro and Luka Modri are projected to play in the midfield. Isco played extremely well over the weekend and scored twice to help Madrid win 3-2 vs. Sporting Gijon.
However, Zidane is set to bench him once again for Lucas Vazquez. The winger is expected to play instead of Gareth Bale who will miss the match because of a calf strain.
Isco, Alvaro Morata, Marco Asensio, Danilo, Kovacic, James Rodriguez and Francisco Casilla are set to be on the bench. One another headache for Real Madrid fans is that Modri, Ramos and Kroos are just a booking away from missing the semi-final first leg.
Here's how Real Madrid are likely to line-up tonight:
[4-3-3] Keylor Navas; Daniel Carvajal, Nacho Fernandez, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Luka Modric, Casemiro, Toni Kroos; Lucas Vazquez, Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Bayern Munich team news:
Bayern Munich go into the game with a crisis of their own. Nicolas Feldhahn, a Bayern Munich II player, has travelled with the squad to make up the numbers!
Manuel Neuer will be playing in goal as usual, but it's the defence that is going to be shuffled a lot today. Javi Martinez is suspended while Mats Hummels is still in doubt.
Philipp Lahm, who might be playing his last Champions League match ever, will be playing on the right side of the defence. Juan Bernat is set to play as the left-back tonight as David Alaba will be partnering Jerome Boateng in the centre of the defence.
Apart from that, there will be one other change in the team this evening. Robert Lewandowski is fit again and will be replacing Thomas Muller as the striker of this team.
Here's how Bayern Munich are likely to line-up tonight:
[4-2-3-1] Manuel Neuer; Philipp Lahm, Jerome Boateng, David Alaba, Juan Bernat; Xabi Alonso, Arturo Vidal; Frank Ribery, Thiago Alcantara, Arjen Robben; Robert Lewandowski.