Real Madrid and Marseille will go head-to-head in the Champions League at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday night as both teams look to kick their European campaign off with a win.
Xabi Alonso's side have had an excellent start to the season so far and claimed a 2-1 win over Real Sociedad this past weekend to move to four wins from four games in La Liga. Roberto De Zerbi's side on the other hand claimed a dominant 4-0 win over Lorient this weekend to make it two wins from their opening four Ligue 1 games.
Both sides have some big decisions to make over their team, and this is how GIVEMESPORT expect them to line up for the clash.
Real Madrid Team News
Xabi Alonso
The Spanish side have been handed a major boost in their squad ahead of the game after star midfielder Jude Bellingham was named in the squad for the first time this season, after undergoing shoulder surgery during the summer, while Eduardo Camavinga is also in the squad.
However, Alonso will be without defenders Ferland Mendy and Antonio Rudiger who are dealing with long-term injury issues, while Endrick is also unavailable.
Real Madrid Injuries and Suspensions
Player
Endrick
Ferland Mendy
Antonio Rudiger
Jude Bellingham
Eduardo Camavinga
Alonso Drops Team News Update
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Alonso shared an update on his squad ahead of the game.
"There's one aspect that hasn't changed much, which is the competitive gene he [Carvajal] has. He's had it since he arrived in the 2013-14 season, and when he arrived from Leverkusen, he was important in his first season. He gave us a lot and we ended up winning the Champions League . Over the years, that hasn't changed much, but his personality, maturity, the weight of what it means to be a captain, with the experience he has at Madrid and the national team, the respect his teammates have for him, the responsibility he has to transmit—that has evolved, and I've found that. In the United States, he was still recovering, but now that he's fit enough to play, you can see he has a very important positive influence on the rest. Those leaders have to flourish within a dressing room; they're fundamental. Carvajal is one of them. There are many others of us who need that powerful core to pull the rest of the team forward.
"We all feel like this is a project that's just beginning. Within the project of being at Madrid, one of the objectives along the way is to win the Champions League . Hopefully it's sooner rather than later and that we're on the right path to get there. Kylian is part of this. Today we talked about what the Champions League means, but we didn't talk about May, we talked about what's closest."
Real Madrid Predicted XItrent alexander-arnold real madrid
Real Madrid Predicted XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Huijsen, Carreras; Tchouameni, Valverde; Mastantuono, Guler, Vini Jr; Mbappe.
Real Madrid Predicted Substitutes: Lunin (GK), Alexander-Arnold (DEF), Alaba (DEF), Garcia (DEF), Asencio (DEF), Bellingham (MID), Ceballos (MID), Camavinga (MID), Rodrygo (FWD), Brahim (FWD), Gonzalo (FWD).
With Alonso's side building up momentum, he is unlikely to make too many changes to his lineup. That means £870,000-a-week duo Trent Alexander-Arnold and Rodrygo are likely to be on the bench once more, while Bellingham and Camavinga are unlikely to be rushed back.
Marseille Team News
Marseille head coach Roberto De Zerbi on the touchline
The Ligue 1 giants are at near full strength heading to the Spanish capital for this game as Roberto De Zerbi leads his team into the Champions League.
The only absentee is Amine Gouiri who suffered a head injury recently, but Mason Greenwood and Angel Gomes are part of the 22-man travelling squad. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has travelled, but it's unclear if he's available to play.
Marseille Injuries and Suspensions
Player
Amine Gouiri
De Zerbi Drops Team News Update
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, De Zerbi shared an update on his squad ahead of the game.
"You have to be very careful with Mbappé and the other players, knowing the risk of conceding goals at the Bernabéu is always high. That’s why we cannot afford to lack possession of the ball and must have courage in attack. We have quality and pride to fight for a good result.
"We have experienced players. I love my team. Aubameyang is a big loss, but we can play a few games without him. We have to find the right system because lots of players came in quite late and it's not easy to find that connection straight away."
Marseille Predicted XI
mason greenwood marseille
Marseille Predicted XI: Rulli; Murillo, Pavard, Aguerd, Medina; Gomes, Kondogbia; Paixao, Nadir, Weah; Greenwood.
Marseille Predicted Substitutes: De Lange (GK), Van Neck (GK), Balerdi (DEF), Egan-Riley (DEF), Murillo (DEF), Palmieri (DEF), Bakola (MID), Hojbjerg (MID), O'Riley (MID), Vermeeren (MID), Vaz (FWD).