Real Madrid head to Atalanta for a vital UEFA Champions League clash on December 10.
Los Blancos have struggled for consistency in the newly-formatted league phase of the competition with Carlo Ancelotti’s side currently 25th in the rankings.
Three defeats from five games means their final European fixture of 2024 puts Ancelotti in firm need of a positive result on the road in Bergamo.
Atalanta have racked up 11 points from their five Champions League outings so far in 2024/25 as Gian Piero Gasperini aims for a knockout stage spot.
The Sporting News looks at the latest team news for this fixture.
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Atalanta vs. Real Madrid lineups, starting 11, team news
Atalanta have not registered any fresh injury concerns ahead of Real Madrid’s visit. However, Juan Cuadrado, Davide Zappacosta and Gianluca Scamacca remain sidelined.
Gasperini’s team are in the middle of a sensational run of form with nine successive wins in all competitions. He is only expected to make limited changes from the 2-1 weekend Serie A win over AC Milan as their title lead stretched to two points above Napoli.
Giotgio Scalvini is tipped to come in to bolster the hosts defence.
Atalanta confirmed lineup (3-5-2, right to left): Carnesecchi (GK) — Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac — Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri, Pasalic — De Ketelaere, Lookman.
Injured: Cuadrado, Zappacosta, Scamacca.
Suspended: None
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Ancelotti has been boosted by two major returns with Rodrygo passed fit after missing the 3-0 La Liga win over Girona with a muscle injury. Fellow Brazilian Vinicius Junior is also back – after missing the last four games – and both players are in line to start in Italy. Vini slots back into the starting XI, but Rodrygo is only fit for the bench.
Dani Carvajal, David Alaba and Eder Militao are all still long-term absentees with Ferland Mendy out until the start of 2025. Fran Garcia is expected to cover for Mendy at left-back but Eduardo Camavinga has been left in Madrid as a precaution.
There are three youth players on the bench for Madrid, thanks to their hefty injury load. 19-year-old left-back Youssef Enriquez, a Spain youth international who has also appeared for Morocco’s youth side, is amongst the substitutes, while young midfielder Chema Andres is also available alongside third-string goalkeeper Sergio Mestre.
Real Madrid confirmed lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Courtois (GK) — Vazquez, Tchouameni, Rudiger, F Garcia — Valverde, Bellingham, Ceballos — B. Diaz, Mbappe, Vinicius.
Injured: Mendy, Camavinga, Militao, Alaba, Carvajal.
Suspended: None
Atalanta vs. Real Madrid live stream, TV channel
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