Real Madrid have rescued their UEFA Champions League standing in recent weeks from the previously dire situation, but they still remain on edge as they close out their league phase with a trip to French side Brest on Wednesday.
The Spanish giants sit 16th in the table on 12 points with one match remaining. While they still have a mathematical chance of securing a Round of 16 bye by finishing amongst the top eight, the more realistic goal is for them to end the day with a seeded playoff position, which they can do by retaining their current standing.
Los Blancos will be without superstar Vinicius Junior, who is suspended for yellow-card accumulation after a booking against Salzburg. The Brazilian was cautioned for diving, which saw him trigger an automatic one-game ban as it was his third yellow of the competition.
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There are other questions for Carlo Ancelotti to answer, particularly along the back line, where injuries have sapped Madrid of their depth and forced the boss to dig deep into the squad’s youth ranks.
The Sporting News runs through the latest team news and injury updates for both sides.
Brest vs. Real Madrid lineups, predicted starting 11, team news
The French hosts have been ravaged by injuries at the back, with defenders Bradley Locko, Jordan Amavi, Julien Le Cardinal, and Massadio Haidara all struggling for fitness. It leaves head coach Eric Roy to decide between Abdoulaye Ndiaye or Soumaila Coulibaly in central defence.
Midfielder Jonas Martin is also sidelined with a muscle injury, leaving Brest a bit thinner in the middle of the pitch, while forward Mama Balde is unlikely to participate after departing each of their past two games with injuries.
Roy must choose either Edimilson Fernandes, who was deployed in midfield last week, or Romain Faive, who started over the weekend in domestic play. At left-back, young Luck Zogbe is starting in Ligue 1 but was not registered for Champions League play, leaving Mathias Pereira Lage to take over.
Brest predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Bizot (GK) — Lala, Chardonnet, Coulibaly, Pereira Lage — Magnetti, Camara — Del Castillo, Faivre, Sima — Ajorque
Injured: Locko (Achilles), Amavi (hamstring), Le Cardinal (hamstring), Haidara (calf), Martin (muscle), Balde (undisclosed)
Suspended: None
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Vinicius will be suspended for this league-phase finale, having earned his third yellow card of the competition last time out for simulation. This could mean that Brahim Diaz gets the start out wide, just as he did over the weekend when Vini was also suspended for a league match against Real Valladolid.
With David Alaba still slowly working his way back to full match fitness, earning 22 minutes off the bench over the weekend, it’s still up to Aurelien Tchouameni to deputize at centre-back from the start. Eder Militao is out for the season with a torn ACL and Eduardo Camavinga is down with a hamstring injury.
Dani Carvajal is also out with his torn ACL, creating a constant question at right-back. Although usually a centre-back, young Raul Asencio impressed over the weekend and could be rewarded with a Champions League start, or Federico Valverde could be asked to deputize again in an unfamiliar position.
Real Madrid predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Courtois (GK) — Asencio, Tchouameni, Rudiger, F. Garcia — Modric, Valverde — B. Diaz, Bellingha, Rodrygo — Mbappe
Injured: Militao (ACL), Carvajal (ACL), Camavinga (hamstring)
Suspended: Vinicius (yellow-card accumulation)
Brest vs. Real Madrid live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this Champions League match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
