Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has named his 23-man squad for Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final first-leg match against Chelsea.
Real Madrid are the first to reveal their squad ahead of Chelsea’s visit to Santiago Bernabeu.
As expected, Ferland Mendy, who is still nursing a thigh injury, is the only notable absentee in Ancelotti’s latest squad.
The Italian manager has dealt with the left-back’s absence quite well in the last few games, with Eduardo Camavinga and Nacho filling the void in this position.
Based on Ancelotti’s previous comment that he might field the same starting eleven that he used in the 4-0 win against Barcelona, Camavinga may be more likely to start ahead of Nacho on the left of the back four.
In the Classico win, veteran midfield duo; Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, started in midfield alongside Federico Valverde.
Like Frank Lampard, who rested N’Golo Kante against Wolves, Ancelotti also did something similar with Modric and Kroos against Villarreal, although the former still made an appearance as a substitute.
Vinicius Jr., Karim Benzema, and Rodrygo were the front three both against Barcelona and Villarreal.
In the two matches between Chelsea and Real Madrid last season, however, Ancelotti deployed Valverde as a right winger.
The versatile midfielder arguably offers a lot more defensively than Rodrygo and Ancelotti could do something similar in an attempt to neutralise Ben Chilwell’s attacking threat.
Real Madrid squad vs Chelsea:
Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, and Luis Lopez.
Defenders: Carvajal, E. Militao, Alaba, Vallejo, Nacho, Odriozola, Lucas V., and Rudiger.
Midfielders: Kroos, Modric, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni, and D. Ceballos.
Forwards: Hazard, Benzema, Asensio, Vini Jr., Rodrygo, and Mariano.
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