Real Madrid have named their squad for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second-leg clash against Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabéu (9pm CET). The match vs City will decide the 2nd finalist as Liverpool secured their ticket for a place in Stade de France, Saint-Denis. The 4-3 result of the 1st leg gives Manchester City a slight advantage but the game is still open and it is extremely difficult to make predictions.
Below is the squad list that Ancelotti has called for this game. Hazard, Bale and Isco will are absent.
Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, Fuidias.
Defenders: Carvajal, E. Militão, Alaba, Vallejo, Nacho, Marcelo, F. Mendy.
Midfielders: Kroos, Modrić, Casemiro, Valverde, Lucas V., D. Ceballos, Camavinga.
Forwards: Benzema, Asensio, Jović, Vini Jr., Rodrygo, Mariano.
Eden Hazard and Gareth Bale have both been left out of the Real Madrid squad for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with Manchester City on Wednesday night.Bale was a notable absentee from Real Madrid's La Liga title celebrations at the weekend, and the Wales international took to social media to reveal that he has suffered a back problem. The 32-year-old will again not be involved against Man City in the Champions League, while Hazard is also out, with the Belgium international recently undergoing a minor leg operation.
The defender looked set to miss the semi-final second leg, with Carlo Ancelotti confirming that Nacho will partner Eder Militao at the back. David Alaba has been included in the squad, though, despite head coach Carlo Ancelotti claiming that the Austria international will not be involved due to a hamstring issue, unlike Gareth Bale (back), Isco (illness) and Eden Hazard (ankle).
"I don't have any doubts. Alaba can't play," Ancelotti told reporters during his pre-match press conference. "I don't have doubts, it will possibly be a long game too but it's not so important who starts as it is who finishes it.
"The defence system is the same. Alaba is an important player but Nacho's played very well this season. He's experienced and I'm sure he'll put on a good performance tomorrow."
Casemiro, who missed the first-leg loss against Manchester City, was deployed at centre-back in the weekend win over Espanyol that sealed another LaLiga title, but returns to a more natural midfield berth for Wednesday’s crunch tie.
Mariano Diaz and Luka Jovic have both recently been on the sidelines with issues, but the pair are named in the squad and will provide back-up for KarimBenzema in the final third of the field.
Marco Asensio and Rodrygo are also attacking options, but Federico Valverde is being tipped to start in a front three alongside Benzema and Vinicius Junior.
Ancelotti has also confirmed that Casemiro, who was not involved in the first leg through injury, will start in the middle of midfield at Bernabeu.
"He'll help us a lot, his return is instrumental in our improvement defensively. Another thing we'll need is a collective commitment from everyone to move better, be more compact with one another. We have worked hard and long on our defence and hopefully will notice improvements tomorrow," said Ancelotti.
Real Madrid's team was much changed against Espanyol on Saturday with one eye on this match, but Los Blancos still managed to record a 4-0 victory to secure the title in style. Lucas Vazquez, Jesus Vallejo, Marcelo, Eduardo Camavinga, DaniCeballos, Rodrygo, Mariano and Asensio are all expected to drop out of the starting side from the weekend fixture.
Man City led 2-0, 3-1 and 4-2 in the first leg at Etihad Stadium, but Real Madrid answered back on each occasion to leave the tie delicately poised, with the English outfit holding a slender 4-3 advantage. Los Blancos still have four league games to play this season against Atletico Madrid, Levante, Cadiz and Real Betis, but having already secured the title, the capital giants will be placing their full focus on enjoying yet more success in the European Cup.
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