Match Preview

Real Madrid will take on CSKA Moscow in a Champions League group stage rematch at the Bernabéu. These two sides faced off back at the beginning of October, a 1-0 Real Madrid loss in Moscow.

Real and Roma have already clinched their spots to the Round of 16, CSKA and Plzen have both been eliminated. CSKA will be fighting hard for the third spot in the group, as both clubs are vying for a chance at the Europa League.

With this being a meaningless match of sorts for Real Madrid, they will likely elect to sit most of their starters ahead of Saturday’s match against Vallecano. Their only incentive in this match would to seek revenge for the 1-0 loss in Moscow and try to keep CSKA out of Europa League.

Injuries/Suspensions

Real Madrid are still without Nacho and Marcelo. They will still likely be without Casemiro and Kroos, they likely wouldn’t start anyways against CSKA. Mariano and Reguilón may still be out.

CSKA will likely be without Aleksandr Makarov, Ilzat Akhmetov, Alan Dzagoev, and Viktor Vasin.

There are no suspensions for Wednesday’s match.

Potential XIs

Real Madrid

Navas; Odriozola, Vallejo, Sánchez, Carvajal; Valverde, Llorente, Isco, Ceballos; Asensio, Vinicius

With so many injuries to the lineup and a likely rest for most of the starters, it’s rather unpredictable who Solari will select to feature against CSKA. Mariano may still be out with injury, so either Benzema doesn’t rest or Vinicius and Asensio potentially start up top together (or even Vazquez).

Carvajal will likely have to fill in for Reguilón and Marcelo, he did against Melilla and Huesca. Isco may get a start as well after starting against Melilla but not Huesca. The roster still hasn’t been announced at this point, it’s really unpredictable at this stage.

CSKA Moscow

Akinfeev; Nababkin, Becao, Magnusson; Fernandes, Bistrovic, Vlasic, Shchennikov; Zhamaletdinov, Sigurdsson, Chalov

Prediction

Real Madrid-CSKA Moscow 2-1

This match is going to be a bit unpredictable. Real are likely going to rest most of the starting squad since they’re already guaranteed to move on. CSKA are going to go all out to claim a spot in third to see Europa League action, obviously it also boils down to what happens in Plzen’s match as well.

Whatever happens regarding the result really has no bearing on what happens to Real Madrid, their sights are already set to the Round of 16 and likely Saturday’s match. Of course a win should always be pursued, but it’s not a huge deal if a draw or loss occur. The main stake would be for Real to end CSKA’s chances at securing a Europa spot.