Predicted lineups: Real Madrid vs Manchester City, 2020 Champions League

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has an interesting decision ahead of him now that Eden Hazard isn’t available after picking up another foot injury during last Saturday’s match against Levante. Madrid’s lineup with Hazard would’ve most likely been a 4-4-2 with the Belgian star and Benzema leading the offense and Casemiro, Kroos, Modric and Valverde in the midfield. Now, Zidane has different choices.

Zidane could start Gareth Bale replacing Hazard in that 4-4-2, but the Welshman hasn’t been impressive in quite a while and frankly, there are other players who deserve a chance to feature more than him. Vinicius and Isco come to mind but neither one of them seems to be suited to play alongside Benzema in that formation, so Madrid’s system would need to change.

Real Madrid predicted XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Mendy, Casemiro, Kroos, Modric, Valverde, Isco, Benzema.

Manchester City predicted XI: Ederson, Walker, Fernandinho, Laporte, Mendy, Rodri, De Bruyne, David Silva, Bernardo Silva, Sterling, Agüero.

In the end, it’s likely that Zidane decides to crowd the midfield and use a 4-5-1 formation which worked well in the Spanish Supercup and could be a good idea against Manchester City’s possession-oriented style.

HOW TO WATCH, STREAM CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Date: 02/26/2020

Time: 21:00 CET (local time), 03:00pm EST.

Venue: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain.

Available TV: TNT (USA), TUDN (USA), Movistar Liga Campeones (Spain)

Available Streaming: Watch TNT (USA), Fubo.TV (USA).

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