Real Madrid vs Milan: Preview, predictions and lineups | OneFootball

Carlo Ancelotti faces his former club on Tuesday night when Real Madrid take on Milan in the Champions League league phase.

Ancelotti lifted the trophy as a player and manager for the Rossoneri and remains venerated in Italy's fashion capital. The all-time great coach has blossomed into a perennial victor of the competition at Madrid, but not much has gone his way at the start of the 2024/25 season.

The tragic events which continue to unfold in the south of Spain means Madrid's La Liga clash with Valencia was postponed at the weekend, meaning their last outing before Tuesday's game was their 4-0 defeat to a rampant Barcelona in El Clasico on 26 October.

Ancelotti's side enter this contest having won two of their opening three league phase games, with Vinicius Junior inspiring Madrid to a come-from-behind 5-2 win over Borussia Dortmund last time out.

Paulo Fonseca has endured an up-and-down start to life as Milan manager, with their domestic inconsistency leaving them seventh in Serie A. They did, however, secure their first league phase win on Matchday 3, beating Club Brugge 3-1 having previously lost to Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen.

Here is 90min's guide to Real Madrid vs Milan in the Champions League.

Real Madrid vs Milan H2H Record (Last Five Games)

Current form (all competitions)

How to watch Real Madrid vs Milan on TV and live stream

Real Madrid team news

Rodrygo is set to return from injury on Tuesday night / Angel Martinez/GettyImages

Madrid will be boosted by Rodrygo's return to the matchday squad after a brief spell out due to injury and the Brazilian could come straight back into the Madrid XI on Tuesday night. Antonio Rudiger should also be fit to feature despite concerns over his knee.

Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe will once again operate up top, potentially alongside Rodrygo, while veteran Luka Modric will be considered in the middle of the park. There is some worry over midfielder Federico Valverde's workload, but the Uruguayan may well come through to start.

Madrid are still without Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba and Dani Carvajal.

Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Milan

Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Milan (4-3-3): Lunin; Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Modric, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius, Mbappe.

Milan team news

Ismael Bennacer is dealing with an ankle injury / Francesco Scaccianoce/GettyImages

Tammy Abraham returned to Fonseca's squad at Monza on Saturday, but the Milan boss will likely stick with Alvaro Morata up top on Tuesday. The Spaniard broke through in his homeland's capital a decade ago.

Abraham may be off the injury list, but the Rossoneri are still without Alessandro Florenzi, Luka Jovic and Mattia Gabbia. Metronomic midfielder Ismael Bennacer is also set to miss out again with an ankle injury.

Rafael Leao has shown signs of rediscovering his most electrifying form in recent outings and will join Morata and Christian Pulisic in Milan's frontline on Tuesday.

Milan predicted lineup vs Real Madrid (4-3-3): Maignan; Royal, Thiaw, Tomori, Hernandez; Loftus-Cheek, Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Morata, Leao.

Real Madrid vs Milan score prediction

Milan have been so up and down at the start of Fonseca's reign, but every opponent has a chance against Madrid at the moment.

Vini Jr spared their blushes on Matchday 3 with an outstanding hat-trick before Ancelotti's side were blown out of the water by Barca on their previous outing. The mini-break they've enjoyed as a result of their postponed fixture at the weekend will do Madrid some good and they should appear rejuvenated on Tuesday night.

Outside of their surprise Derby della Madonnina triumph, the Rossoneri have fallen short against superior opposition this season and, while Madrid will hand them periods of control in Tuesday's game, their proficiency up top will prove far too much for the visitors to handle.