Real Madrid will face Manchester City in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) semi-final at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.
The first leg between the two sides ended in a 1-1 draw after superb goals by Vinicius Junior and Kevin De Bruyne.
Ahead of the second leg, renowned Spanish journalist Jose Luis Sanchez has revealed Real Madrid’s likely starting XI for the crucial fixture.
Defender Eder Militao will return to the starting XI after being suspended for the first leg. Meanwhile, winger Rodrygo will be benched for the clash.
Real Madrid’s likely starting XI
Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Alaba; Camavinga, Kroos, Modric; Valverde, Vinicius, Benzema.
It must be noted that Kevin De Bruyne´s brilliant drive earned Manchester City a 1-1 draw at Real Madrid in a gripping Champions League semi-final first leg battle.
The Belgian slammed Pep Guardiola´s visitors level after Vinicius Junior opened the scoring for the reigning champions from distance in similarly spectacular fashion.
Madrid managed to completely shackle lethal striker Erling Haaland but De Bruyne´s powerful effort left the tie on a knife edge ahead of the second leg in Manchester next week.
The record 14-time winners knocked City out at the same stage last season despite being outplayed in both games, and took the lead at the Santiago Bernabeu against the run of play.
However, when Madrid found their stride in the second half, City -- still chasing their first ever Champions League trophy — hit back through De Bruyne.
Madrid central defenders David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger did not give Haaland room to breathe.
The visitors controlled much of the first half, with nearly 70 percent possession, but went in trailing at the break.
Thibaut Courtois fielded an early barrage of shots from De Bruyne, Rodri and Haaland, as City dominated and Madrid sat back, soaking up the pressure.
The hosts took the lead through a lethal counter-attack 10 minutes before the break, with Eduardo Camavinga surging past Bernardo Silva, tearing into space and feeding Vinicius.
The Brazilian arrowed a strike into the top left corner from almost 25 yards, past Ederson´s helpless dive. It was Madrid´s only shot in the first half, but the game´s most effective one.
— Additional input from AFP