There are few stronger bonds in football than Real Madrid and the Champions League, with the Spanish club aiming to reach the competition’s showpiece event for the 18th time on Wednesday night.
The 14-time champions drew 2-2 in Munich last week to set up their semi-final against Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern.
Madrid were confirmed as La Liga champions between the two clashes, with Carlo Ancelotti fielding his starting XI with a 3-0 win over Cadiz on Saturday.
Wednesday’s hosts have a clean bill of health for the visit of Bayern and this is the first team Ancelotti could choose for the game.
GK: Andriy Lunin – Thibaut Courtois is back! However, Lunin got the right to keep his place in the second leg.
RB: Dani Carvajal – Madrid sorely missed Carvajal in Munich with Lucas Vazquez battling the wiles of Jamal Musiala. The Madrid star will have to be at his best to contain the German champion.
CB: Antonio Rudiger – Rudiger has played a lot of football this season and his rest on Saturday was well deserved.
CB: Nacho Fernandez – The captain started the first leg and has done well this season. He seems to have grown in confidence as the season has gone on, although Eder Militao is still struggling.
LB: Ferland Mendy – Another who did not play a single minute against Cadiz, Mendy is a shoo-in to replace Fran Garcia at left back and duel Leroy Sane again.
DM: Aurelien Tchouameni – Eduardo Camavinga usually starts at this stage of the tournament, but Tchouameni, who was a doubt with a minor injury heading into the weekend, is likely to start in his side.
CM: Toni Kroos – Bayern will probably think twice about giving their former player an inch of breathing room on Wednesday after opening the first leg with a direct opener from Vinicius Junior.
CM: Federico Valverde – The tireless Uruguayan has been a regular in the Madrid XI this season for good reason and that will not change on Wednesday.
AM: Jude Bellingham – Critics were quick to appear after Bellingham’s performance in Munich, but he was back on the scoresheet over the weekend and has been a regular fixture during the season opener.
ST: Rodrygo – Ancelotti has found a way to increase his strike partnership, Rodrygo now prefers to drift down the left. The Brazilian played a free role in Madrid’s attack.
ST: Vinicius Junior – The Madrid star scored two points in Munich to ensure his side get a result in the second leg on Wednesday. Vinicius has provided time and time again for Los Blancos in the Champions League. Can he do it again?
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