Marcelo returns to the Real Madrid XI for tonight’s Champions League last-16 first leg at a Daniele De Rossi-less Roma.
The left-back has recovered from a shoulder injury in time for the trip to the Stadio Olimpico, with Isco coming in for Mateo Kovacic to constitute Los Blancos’ only other change from the side which defeated Athletic Bilbao 4-2 over the weekend.
Roma, on the other hand, are without their midfield general De Rossi, who is only good enough for the substitutes’ bench, while former Sevilla man Diego Perotti starts as a false nine, despite Edin Dzeko and Francesco Totti’s presence in the matchday squad.
The Italians came out on top the last time these two teams locked horns competitively, back in 2008, when they prevailed 4-2 on aggregate at the same of the competition, also under boss Luciano Spalletti.
Roma: Szczesny; Florenzi, Manolas, Rudiger, Digne; Vainqueur, Nainggolan; Salah, Pjanic, El Shaarawy; Perotti
Subs: De Sanctis, Maicon, Keita, De Rossi, Dzeko, Totti, Falque
Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Kroos, Modric, Isco; James, Benzema, Ronaldo
Subs: Casilla, Danilo, Nacho, Casemiro, Kovacic, Jese, Vazquez
Referee: Kralovec [CZE]
