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Toni Kroos and Aurelien Tchouameni are out of Real Madrid’s Champions League squad for their match against Liverpool on Tuesday. In addition, Karim Benzema will soon make a comeback after missing the weekend.
The Champions League champions will go to Anfield to play the last year’s finalists with a weakened midfield, without two of Carlo Ancelotti’s first-choice talents.
Luka Modric, an experienced veteran, leads the midfield alongside Ernesto Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Mario Martin, Sergio Arribas, and Dani Ceballos.
Valverde, who scored in Real Madrid’s 2-0 away win against Osasuna on Saturday, might be used in a deeper role against Jurgen Klopp’s side in midweek.
Camavinga and Ceballos teamed Modric in Real Madrid’s midfield over the weekend, albeit Ancelotti pulled the Spaniard off early.
Kroos is still ill, having missed Wednesday’s game against Elche at the Bernabeu due to illness, while Tchouameni is also recovering from the virus.
The German international was suffering from an intestinal ailment, which had a negative impact on his weight and muscular mass.
Benzema is also out of Ancelotti’s team recently. He is still injure with a hamstring injury sustained on the eve of the World Cup last year.
The Frenchman was left the pitch against Osasuna, raising concerns over his availability for the Champions League final.
Kroos and Tchouameni will not play in the 1st match against Liverpool
Los Blancos supporters will be happy to learn of his selection, given the forward’s dominant performance in the tournament’s knockout stage last season.
Last season, Benzema scored 10 goals in seven elimination matches for Real Madrid, who won their 14th Champions League title by defeating Liverpool in the final.
Gaining momentum ahead of the important match, Liverpool defeated high-flying Newcastle 2-0 at Saint James’ Park, regaining ground in the battle for the top four.
Liverpool and Real Madrid have a long history in the Champions League, dating back to their painful 1-0 loss in the final last year.
Madrid knocked the Reds out of the 2021-22 competition in the quarter-finals, defeating them 3-1 on aggregate.
Four years ago, the Spanish team defeated Liverpool 3-1 in the Champions League final, due to a spectacular second-half brace from Gareth Bale.
Real Madrid has won five of their nine meetings, while drawing one and losing three.
Despite placing second in their group behind Serie A leaders Napoli, Liverpool finished the campaign with two more points than Real Madrid.
Ancelotti’s team won four of their six matches to finish first in Group F, 13 points ahead of runners-up Red Bull Leipzig.
