Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has to make a huge call when picking his side for a must-win Champions League clash away at Atalanta on Tuesday.
The defending champions have lost three matches in the defense of their crown won at Wembley in June so far, and are some way outside the top eight of the UCL's league phase which grants automatic passage to the knockout phase and takes away the need for a play-off.
Though Madrid beat the Italians in the UEFA Super Cup final at the beginning of the season, Atalanta is much-improved and currently tops the Serie A.
With this in mind, Ancelotti said at his pre-match press conference that he expects Tuesday's clash to be incredibly demanding.
"Atalanta is doing very well, they have improved a lot compared to the Super Cup. It is on a roll and transmits enthusiasm, but this is an opportunity to add [points] and qualify," he added.
Ancelotti believes that "nothing more" than the chance to take three points is at stake.
"They will be three important points to qualify. It will be difficult to finish in the top eight, so we will have to play for [nine to] sixteenth, unfortunately. But tomorrow's match is only three points," he insisted at his prematch press conference.
Still, for Madrid's image and perhaps Ancelotti's future, the match is considered must-win by many the best possible team needs to be put out.
Ancelotti admitted that it "could be the most complicated between now and the end of the year", which includes the Intercontinental Cup final.
Starting in goal will be Thibaut Courtois, defended by a back line of Fran Garcia, Toni Rudiger, Aurelien Tchouameni and Lucas Vazquez.
Fran is of course a no-brainer because of Ferland Mendy's injury, while Tchouameni once again gets the nod over breakout star Raul Asencio.
The midfield is occupied by Jude Bellingham, Fede Valverde, Luka Modric, and an Arda Guler who scored at Girona on Saturday and starts his third match out of the last four he's been available for.
Up front, Kylian Mbappe is a cert but Ancelotti has to make a call between Vinicius Jr. - who has returned from injury ahead of schedule - and Rodrygo.
More than likely, however, he will go for the Ballon d'Or runner up on the left of a front two.
Real Madrid Starting XI Vs. Atalanta: Courtois; Fran, Rudiger, Tchouameni, Vazquez; Bellingham, Valverde, Modric, Guler; Vinicius, Mbappe