Mbappe, Trent start in a 4-4-2 – How Real Madrid can line up against Benfica | OneFootball

Real Madrid are back in action in the UEFA Champions League later tonight as they take on SL Benfica in the first leg of their knockout playoff tie.

The Merengues had one foot through the door into the Round of 16 of the competition, until a 4-2 defeat to Benfica on the final matchday of the league phase dropped them out of the top eight.

Now, Alvaro Arbeloa & co. have to go through an additional playoff round to secure qualification to the Round of 16, with Benfica once again standing in their way as the hurdle.

Real Madrid go into the game against Jose Mourinho’s men on the back of a 4-1 win over Real Sociedad in La Liga. However, the Portuguese giants have not lost any of their previous five matches and will pose a major challenge at home.

Real Madrid will also be without key midfielder Jude Bellingham, while Eder Militao and Rodrygo Goes are also ruled out through injuries. Raul Asencio also misses out because of suspension.

With that being said, here’s how Real Madrid could line up against Benfica tonight at Estadio da Luz, as they hope to take a step forward towards the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Defence

Thibaut Courtois will be the man guarding the goal for Real Madrid and will hope to have a better outing in Lisbon compared to last time when he conceded four goals.

As for the defensive line, Alvaro Carreras should keep his place at left-back. The Spanish defender, however, will need to be wary of slipping up discipline-wise, considering a booking would see him suspended for the second leg.

With no Raul Asencio, Antonio Rudiger and Dean Huijsen, under intense scrutiny after his mistake against Sociedad, will continue as the two centre-backs.

Trent to start again. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, at right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold should start once again after a brilliant performance in the win against Sociedad over the weekend. It means Dani Carvajal will once again have to make do with a spot on the bench.

Midfield

In recent matches, Arbeloa has opted to line up with a four-man midfield structure, and with the switch-up seemingly working, the manager is unlikely to change it for tonight.

As such, Federico Valverde, who will once again captain the team with Carvajal on the bench, will occupy the right flank for Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, Eduardo Camavinga will take up the left side of the midfield bank of four, with the Frenchman admitting that he is comfortable playing in that position.

Aurelien Tchouameni and Arda Guler will be the two central midfielders, with the former screening the defence and the latter providing the creative impetus going forward.

Attack

Real Madrid’s two-pronged attack against Benfica will pair up their two biggest superstars in Vinicius Jr., who scored twice in the last game, and Kylian Mbappe, who returns after being rested against Real Sociedad.

Gonzalo Garcia, who scored against the Basque club at the weekend, will have to drop to the bench. Franco Mastantuono will also be an option for the manager to count on in the latter stages of the game.