Real Madrid is already in Paris. The white team boarded the plane at the Adolfo Suárez-Madrid Barajas Airport around 10:30 in the morning and landed at 12:45 in the Charles de Gaulle in Paris, the largest of the three arrival airports in the French capital. From there, the white team moved to the luxurious Hotel du Collectioneur, just over a kilometer walk from the Arc de Triomphe and immersed in the luxurious eighth district of Paris.the same one that houses the Champs Elysées.
Carlo Ancelotti and a player from the squad will go to the Parc des Princes in the afternoon for the official press conference, which will take place at 6:05 p.m. Then, starting at 7:00 p.m., the official training of the white team will begin on the pitch that will start on Wednesday, from 9:00 p.m., will be the scene of the duel between PSG and Madrid. That’s when the time will come for Benzema to clear up any doubts.
Ancelotti has taken 26 men to Paris: the 25 members of the first team and Castilla goalkeeper Toni Fuidias. Mendy traveled, coming out of injury, but who has already worked with the group normally and, therefore, may be in the starting eleven. His defensive strength seems key against an attack of the depth that PSG has, with Di María, Messi and Mbappé, as well as Neymar on the bench, probably.
Everyone looks at Benzema
The main doubt is in Benzema, who has been working individually, without interacting with his teammates to avoid crashes and unnecessary risks. The French striker is key in Madrid thanks to the 24 goals he has scored this season, but his muscular problems, which arose during the match against Elche at the Bernabéu, compromise his presence on Tuesday at the Parc des Princes.
Tuesday’s training in Paris will dictate sentence. If Benzema manages to work normally together with the rest of his teammates, he will have options to enter the eleven. Ancelotti is clear that he does not want to take serious risks with the striker, since it is only the first leg and he is confident that the team has the capacity to leave Paris alive without him. He will not be 100% in any case, but Carletto will only line him up if he considers that his participation does not entail a risk of breakage.