The final stop on Real Madrid’s magnificent Champions League journey is a meeting with Liverpool on Saturday.
Los Blancos have powered their way through Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City to get to this point, producing some of the competition’s all-time greatest moments in pursuit of their 14th European Cup – and their first since beating Jurgen Klopp’s side back in 2018.
Here’s how Carlo Ancelotti could set his team up.
GK: Thibaut Courtois – Courtois has four clean sheets to his name this campaign and needs one more here to tie Edouard Mendy at the top of the standings.
RB: Dani Carvajal – Will need some extra help as he tries to slow Sadio Mane and Luis Diaz down.
CB: Eder Militao – His stock has taken a bit of a bump lately but Militao can still be ecstatic about his performances this season.
CB: David Alaba – An adductor injury has been troubling Alaba in recent weeks but he’s expected to shake it off in time for this one.
LB: Ferland Mendy – Mendy is the polar opposite of Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose qualities lie more on the attacking side of things.
DM: Casemiro – The Casemiro vs Fabinho debate will write another chapter here.
CM: Luka Modric – Eduardo Camavinga has been sensational off the bench in this competition but the youngster is never going to displace Modric for this one.
CM: Toni Kroos – The German was taken off at half-time in the season finale against Real Betis to protect his ageing legs.
RW: Federico Valverde – He’s obviously not a winger but Valverde has been sensational as a wide midfielder and his energy will be crucial to combating Liverpool’s movement. Expect to see Rodrygo off the bench.
ST: Karim Benzema – 15 goals in just 11 games this season. Mental.
LW: Vinicius Junior – Vinicius will hope to reignite concerns over Alexander-Arnold’s defensive weaknesses, just as he did to Andreas Christensen against Chelsea.
