Follow Real Madrid – Liverpool: Champions League live
Real Madrid will host Liverpool tonight at the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals without its two head offices. Ramos was out due to physical problems. The white captain will miss today's duel and, in principle, also the return. But on Tuesday morning Varane's positive for Coronavirus was known. The French central is low at the last minute for the clash. His place in the center of the defense will be occupied by Militao, who will form with Nacho.
Zidane recovered Valverde for this match. The Uruguayan will be at your disposal, although he would have to wait his turn on the bench. Valverde hastened his recovery after the muscle injury suffered in Vigo and will be an important reinforcement for Zidane. Hazard did not enter the cast. The French coach preferred not to risk with the Belgian and will see him from the stands. The former Chelsea player had trained with the group for the second consecutive session, but the Madrid coaching staff does not want to force him, given his history. Carvajal will not be available either, the white side continues with his recovery, but still does not work with the group. The white defense will be of circumstances, in it will be missing three fixed players.
Possible eleven of Zinedine Zidane for Real Madrid-Liverpool today
With the losses in defense, the French coach has few options in terms of names, but he manages two drawings. Either play with a 4-3-3 or use the alternative of three centrals and two lanes. Courtois is fixed in the goal. Ahead, the line would be formed by Lucas Vázquez, Militao, Nacho and Mendy. The center of the field will be the gala. Modric, Casemiro and Kroos will articulate the team from the center. In attack, Asensio, who comes from helping Real Madrid against Éibar, will once again have the opportunity together with Benzema and Vinicius.
Varane's loss is a serious setback since he is the center-back who best corrects the squad, being able to abort rival attacks by running backwards. However, Zidane has an alternative to face the duel against Liverpool with greater guarantees defensively. It is about aligning three centrals, a resource that he has already used on several occasions this season. In this case, the most viable option would be to embed Mendy with Nacho and Militao (he already held that position against Getafe and against Eibar in the League). In that case, Marcelo would benefit by entering the left lane. The Brazilian could contribute all his offensive potential by freeing himself of certain responsibility in defense.
Rather, Zidane should sacrifice one of the midfielders or forwards. Benzema, Kroos, Modric and Casemiro are immovable. Lucas would act in the right-handed lane, so there would only be two candidates to occupy a position on the bench: Vinicius or Asensio. Both started as starters in the 4-3-3 that was expected during the week, but now one of the two will have to wait for his opportunity from the stands. This season, Zidane has played with three starting center-backs four times. The balance is very positive: they all ended in victories with nine goals in favor and two against. In fact, in the last match against Eibar he placed the same players who could be from the game against Liverpool: Nacho, Militao and Mendy.
On the bench they will wait for possible substitutions if they opt for the 4-3-3 they would be: Lunin, Altube, Marcelo, Odriozola, Valverde, Isco, Arribas, Mariano and Rodrygo. It should be noted that Real Madrid have two players ready for the crash. If Mendy or Valverde see a yellow card, they will miss the second leg at Anfield.us. Zidane has called 21 players. On the bench for the substitutions would be: Lunin, Altube, Marcelo, Odriozola, Valverde, Isco, Arribas, Mariano and Rodrygo.