Real Madrid Face Man City Crisis: Defensive Stars Out, Mbappe Sidelined
An injury-hit Real Madrid host contemporary Champions League opponents Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabéu this Wednesday evening, with speculation already mounting that this match could determine Xabi Alonso's future.
The Spanish manager represents just the latest tactical mastermind struggling to harmonize with the substantial personalities within the capital club, as Madrid prepare to face City following a disappointing 2–0 home loss to Celta Vigo over the weekend.
Los Blancos have secured victory in only two of their last seven matches across all tournaments, yet a triumph against Pep Guardiola's squad would significantly help persuade the critical Madridistas that supporting their former midfielder in the technical area remains worthwhile.
Nevertheless, defeating the Citizens will prove challenging for the injury-plagued home side. Madrid encountered several major fitness concerns on Saturday, and Alonso appears unlikely to have many—or possibly any—of his currently injured key players ready for Wednesday's encounter.
Here's the potential Madrid formation for Man City's arrival.
Real Madrid Predicted Lineup vs. Man City (4-2-3-1)
GK: Thibaut Courtois—Madrid will probably need an exceptional performance from Courtois to secure their fifth Champions League win this campaign. Fortunately, he possesses that capability.
RB: Raúl Asencio—Given their strained relationship, Alonso would be taking a risk deploying Federico Valverde at right-back, making Asencio's continuation in this position more probable. Both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal remain sidelined with injuries.
CB: Antonio Rüdiger—A healthy and confident Rüdiger has previously contained Erling Haaland effectively, though concerns exist about this current version of the German defender.
CB: Álvaro Carreras—Despite his unnecessary dismissal late in the Celta match, Carreras must persist at the center of Madrid's defense due to their extensive injury list.
LB: Fran García—García faces a similar situation. With Ferland Mendy unavailable and Carreras moving centrally, Alonso might have to select the defender who disappointed him on Saturday.
CM: Aurélien Tchouaméni—The French midfielder has supported Alonso ahead of Wednesday's match, indicating no issues with the manager's weekend strategy. Tchouaméni has been a reliable presence in midfield this season.
CM: Federico Valverde—The Uruguayan has endured a challenging campaign and hasn't aligned with his new manager's vision. Nevertheless, Valverde's energy is crucial for this occasion. Eduardo Camavinga represents a new injury worry.
RW: Franco Mastantuono—The diamond formation seems unlikely for Wednesday, and Alonso may utilize one of Madrid's promising summer signings to spark improvement on the right wing. Despite not featuring for over a month, he was available as a substitute recently.
AM: Jude Bellingham—Bellingham has excelled in previous encounters with City, and the home team urgently requires the most motivated version of the English midfielder to emerge against the Citizens.
LW: Rodrygo—Rodrygo remains without goals this season, but a significant attacking absence should prompt Alonso to adjust his approach. Throughout his Madrid tenure, Rodrygo has appeared far more dangerous operating from the left rather than the right.
ST: Vinicius Junior—With Kylian Mbappé expected to be unavailable, Vinicius Jr could spearhead the attack for the hosts. Alonso seems reluctant to rely on Gonzalo García or Endrick, both having received minimal playing time this season.