Trent, Guler start in a 4-4-2 – How Real Madrid can line up against Manchester City | OneFootball

Real Madrid will be looking to secure their place in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League as they take on Manchester City later tonight in the Round-of-16 second leg.

The Spanish heavyweights already have one foot through the door into the next round, having beaten the Cityzens 3-0 in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Now, it is all about building on that and ensuring that the door is fully closed on Pep Guardiola & co. tonight at the Etihad Stadium.

Real Madrid warmed up for the match with a big 4-1 win over Elche in La Liga at the weekend, while Manchester City stumbled their way to a 1-1 draw against West Ham United in the Premier League.

However, the English giants have already beaten Los Blancos once this season and will be backed by their home support as they look to mount a historic comeback.

Real Madrid, for their part, have been boosted by the return to fitness of superstar forward Kylian Mbappe for the game. Meanwhile, Alvaro Carreras is also back in the squad, although his readiness for tonight’s clash remains uncertain.

Jude Bellingham has travelled with the team as well, but is not ready to play. Meanwhile, Raul Asencio, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Dani Ceballos, and Rodrygo Goes are all out injured.

With that out of the way, here’s how Real Madrid are likely to set up against Manchester City tonight to seal their berth in the Champions League quarterfinals.

Defence

Thibaut Courtois is one of Real Madrid’s most important players and is a certainty to start in goal, hoping to keep another clean sheet like he did in the first leg.

Meanwhile, there will be a change at right-back as Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to replace Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal, who started against Elche over the weekend. The summer signing will be aiming to make an impact on his return to England.

Trent to replace Carvajal. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

As for the left side, Fran Garcia is set to hold on to his place in the side, given that Mendy is out and Carreras’ fitness remains a concern.

Antonio Rudiger and Dean Huijsen, who did a solid job of keeping Erling Haaland quiet in the first leg, will once again be tasked with neutralising the Norwegian phenom.

Midfield

Federico Valverde was the star of the show in the first leg, scoring a brilliant first-half hat-trick that killed Manchester City off on the night. He will once again start on the right side of the midfield four and captain the team.

Meanwhile, Arda Guler is expected to return to the starting XI after featuring as a substitute against Elche and scoring a worldie from inside his own half.

The young Turkish international will provide the creative essence for the team going forward, while his partner, Aurelien Tchouameni, will be tasked with holding down the fort in the centre.

Despite Eduardo Camavinga returning to fitness and starting against Elche over the weekend, teenage gem Thiago Pitarch is set to start as the fourth midfielder for Real Madrid once more, making it his fifth start in a row.

Attack

Even though Mbappe has been declared fit for the game, it would be imprudent of Arbeloa to take a risk with the French superstar’s long-term fitness.

As such, Real Madrid are once again expected to line up with the front two of Vinicius Jr. and Brahim Diaz like in the last three games.

Gonzalo Garcia and Franco Mastantuono will be options from the bench for the manager.