Predicted Teams Real Madrid-AS Monaco: Arbeloa to restore impact substitute to XI | OneFootball

Alvaro Arbeloa will take charge of his first ever European match on Tuesday night (21:00 CEST), as Real Madrid host AS Monaco in their penultimate game of the league phase. Los Blancos are currently sitting in 7th spot, three points from second in the Champions League, but also just three points ahead of Monaco in 19th, who are fighting for a spot in the play-off round.

Alvaro Carreras joins Eder Militao, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rudiger, Ferland Mendy and Brahim Diaz on Arbeloa’s list of absences due to suspension. The latter is still returning from the African Cup of Nations. Opposite number is Sebastien Pocognoli is without Lamine Camara and Krepin Diatta due to AFCON, while Takumi Minamino, Lukas Hradecky, Paul Pogba, Mohammed Salisu and Christian Mawissa on their own lengthy injury list.

Arda Guler to return to starting XI for Real Madrid

Both Diario AS and Marca predict that Arda Guler’s impact off the bench against Levante will earn him a spot in midfield at the expense of Eduardo Camavinga, while Fran Garcia is the logical replacement for Carreras. The only point of doubt comes in the form of Gonzalo Garcia, who Marca believe will be replaced by Franco Mastantuono, while AS feel Gonzalo will remain.

Real Madrid seeking to restore morale

Monaco are likely to begin with Alexander Golovin and Folarin Balogun up front, with Magnes Akliouche the dangerman on the right of midfield. Ansu Fati, on loan from Barcelona, also seems to be in line for a start too.

Image via Marca

Pocognoli’s side desperately need to address a rough run of form, suffering four straight defeats in Ligue 1, the latest a 3-1 loss to Lorient. Real Madrid’s drama is well-documented after a loss to Albacete last week, but moving within a point of Barcelona over the weekend, a strong performance and a result against Monaco would give things a very different outlook for the Bernabeu.