Real Madrid predicted lineup vs Man City - Champions League | OneFootball

Real Madrid will hope to enjoy an evening away from refereeing controversy when they return to Champions League action to face Manchester City on Wednesday.

No team has received more penalties in La Liga this term than the Spanish champions, although there's no denying that Carlo Ancelotti's side have been on the receiving end of some rather harsh decisions in recent weeks.

A "miscommunication" resulted in Jude Bellingham's dismissal at Osasuna on Saturday, but Ancelotti will have last week's match-winner available for Manchester City's visit.

The 'modern Clasico' has rarely disappointed, and a 3-2 Madrid win at the Etihad means we're poised for more of the typical thrills this fixture supplies in Wednesday's second leg. Here's the team Ancelotti could pick as the 15-time Champions League winners aim to book their place in the round of 16.

Jude Bellingham poached a late winner at the Etihad / Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/GettyImages

GK: Thibaut Courtois - Courtois wasn't particularly busy at the Etihad yet he still conceded twice. The excellent Belgian shot-stopper has found clean sheets hard to come by this season amid Madrid's defensive woes.

RB: Federico Valverde - Lucas Vazquez could be back in the matchday squad, but Ancelotti has confirmed he won't start on Wednesday. Valverde, excellent last week, is thus expected to keep his place at right-back.

CB: Aurelien Tchouameni - Madrid have gotten slightly healthier at centre-back over the past week, but there could still be a spot in the backline for Tchouameni.

CB: Antonio Rudiger - The German international is back in training and likely to come straight back into Ancelotti's XI after seeing Erling Haaland score twice last Tuesday.

LB: Ferland Mendy - Fran Garcia has enjoyed a fine season, but Mendy is poised to be preferred to the diminutive Spaniard for City's visit. A duel with the in-form Savinho beckons.

CM: Eduardo Camavinga - Camavinga is still finding his groove after recently returning from a muscle injury, but he's currently Madrid's best all-phase midfielder and a shoo-in to start on Wednesday night.

CM: Dani Ceballos - Luka Modric got the nod at Osasuna, and although Ceballos had an up-and-down night in Manchester, Ancelotti is bound to entrust him again in the second leg.

RW: Rodrygo - There was respite for Rodrygo at the weekend, with Brahim Diaz earning a rare La Liga start. He plays an underrated role down Madrid's right.

AM: Jude Bellingham - Last week's match-winner shone in the second half and will be keen to produce a statement performance under the bright lights of the Bernabeu given what went down on Saturday.

LW: Vinicius Junior - The 2024 Ballon d'Or runner-up had the last laugh in front of the taunters at the Etihad, teeing up Bellingham's winner with an erroneous lobbed effort. Vini Jr so often turns on the style in this competition, especially at home.

ST: Kylian Mbappe - Mbappe's scored in three straight games and has 11 in 13 at the start of 2025. It's fair to say he's found his feet in the Spanish capital.