Real Madrid have named their team for tonight’s game against Man City, and Carlo Ancelotti has shuffled his pack.
The line up is largely as you’d expect, but there’s a significant change in midfield.
Fede Valverde plays in the middle with Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, with his place on the right of midfield taken by Rodrygo.
📋✅ ¡Nuestro 𝗫𝗜 inicial 🆚 @ManCityES! 💪#UCL | @UnicajaBanco pic.twitter.com/macFpe5hm7
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) April 26, 2022
That means no room for Casemiro, in a surprising change for Los Blancos.
Valverde is a quality player, but there’s no doubt that he’s a more offensive option than Casemiro in the middle – and Rodrygo is a more offensive option on the right than Valverde is when he plays that role.
It’s a great gamble against a team as dangerous as Man City, and presumably Ancelotti is hoping to catch out Pep Guardiola with this change.
Much like the games against Chelsea, this is going to be a huge challenge for Madrid, and their first priority is getting to the second leg at the Bernabeu in good shape.
