Preview: Real Madrid vs. Liverpool – Predictions, Team News, Lineups

Preview: Real Madrid vs. Liverpool – Predictions, Team News, Lineups

Needing a slice of the Bernabeu magic to extend their European journey, Liverpool travel to the Spanish capital to face Real Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League final-16 on Wednesday night.

Carlo Ancelotti’s continental veterans fought back from 2-0 down to a phenomenal 5-2 first leg win at Anfield three weeks ago, and only the most catastrophic of disastrous slumps would see quarter-final tickets change hands.

Game preview

Although Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah – the latter of whom received a decent hand or knee from Thibaut Courtois – wowed the crowd at Anfield, there was not an iota of fear in the tough Carlo Ancelotti, whose side scored the first misadventures victory with seven goals even more surprising.

Rival Courtois for the night’s mistake with a direct pass to Vinicius Junior’s leg, Alisson Becker conceded twice to the Brazilian starlet in the closing minutes of the first half, before Eder Militao’s header and Karim Benzema’s brace put the icing on a famous Merseyside rip on The reigning La Liga champions, who had apparently spent all their energy on winning at Anfield, failed to prevail in the three domestic encounters that followed – including a 1-0 loss to Barcelona in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final – but they returned to their type with a comfortable 3-1 win against Espanyol at the weekend.

With Benzema in bubble wrap, Vinicius and Militao were once again on target alongside Marco Asensio as Los Blancos are nine points clear of runaway leaders Barcelona but a 300.

Of the last 27 times Real have won the first leg of a Champions League away clash, they have gone from 26 – only until Erik ten Hag’s Ajax luminaries in 2018-19 during this period – but they will not. Take all the leaves from the Dutchman’s book here after Manchester United’s humiliation at Anfield.

A timely repeat of their 7-0 win over Manchester United at the Bernabeu would undoubtedly be their best Champions League result, but a week is a long time in football, as evidenced by Liverpool’s poor showing in their defeat clash at Bournemouth on Saturday. lunch time.

Liverpool ignored warning signs at the break and then conceded the opening goal against Philip Billing. Liverpool had a rare chance to equalize from 12 yards – their first Premier League penalty since April 2022 – but normal reliable Salah sent a savage

The loss on the south coast kept Tottenham Hotspur higher in the hunt for fourth in the Premier League table. Therefore, prioritizing an amazing Champions League comeback would be the first step to salvaging Wednesday, and Klopp refused to wave the white flag after witnessing the first-leg beating. Of course, Liverpool are no newcomer when it comes to spectacular European Cup comebacks – having fallen 3-0 to beat Barcelona 4-3 on aggregate in 2018-19 – but the lack of fans of Anfield and a certain Divock Origi, uh to meet quickly – the driven curves are anything but ideal.

What’s more, Klopp’s men have recorded just two away wins in their eight away games in 2023 and they are winless in seven games for Real Madrid since winning the quarter-finals. 2008/09 edition. The result of the return match of this battle of giants? 4-0

Team News

Ballon d’Or winner Benzema missed the match against Espanyol as a precaution with an ankle problem and has since joined his team-mates for a full training session. He should lead the line at Anfield and Ancelotti should also rely on the return from the left. back Ferland Mendy. However, the Frenchman has been out with a thigh problem since late January so Ancelotti may be reluctant to risk him from the first whistle, while David Alaba himself went off with a thigh problem in the first leg and should be out.

After using Eduardo Camavinga at left-back against Espanyol, Ancelotti should deploy Antonio Rudiger or Mendy – depending on his conditions – for the return, with the presence of the former allowing Nacho Fernandez to move into a winger role.

As for Liverpool, Klopp has yet to deal with the absences of Luis Diaz, Thiago Alcantara, Calvin Ramsay and Joe Gomez for the trip to the Bernabeu. break.

Arthur made a rare appearance on the bench at Vitality following thigh surgery, but a knockout also left the hapless Naby Keita in doubt for this game, and any possible midfield changes would still see Jordan Henderson as the first port of call.

Diogo Jota was a bright spark against Bournemouth when he replaced Harvey Elliott at half-time, and with an enthusiastic approach needed to save their European bacon, Klopp could very well consider sending the Portuguese into an ambitious 4-2-3- 1. Possible starting

line-up for Real Madrid: courteous; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Nacho; Modric, Tchouameni, Kroos; Valverde, Benzema, Vinicius Jr

Probable starting line-up for Liverpool:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson; Salah, Jota, Nunez; Gakpo

Say: Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool (Real Madrid win 8-3 on aggregate)

Given what happened to their Catalan counterparts four years ago, perhaps Real Madrid can tread carefully knowing that Klopp’s current Liverpool pick will not instill the same fear in the hearts of their opponents, especially with