Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has one major doubt as per his first XI for Wednesday’s Champions League semi final second leg against Bayern Munich.
The European behemoths go into this week’s fixture at the Bernabeu tied 2-2 on aggregate, with the winner facing either Paris Saint-Germain or Borussia Dortmund in a Wembley decider come June 1.
Though Bayern managed to net two goals in four minutes early in the second half last time out, a Vinicius Jr. opener and late penalty near the death set up what should be a thrilling encounter in the Spanish capital.
Ancelotti rested several key players on Saturday, as a 3-0 home win over Cadiz played its part in sealing a record-extending 36th La Liga crown once FC Barcelona lost a Catalan derby to Girona 4-2 a couple of hours later.
Mundo Deportivo says that Ancelotti is pretty much clear on his first XI to face the Bavarians but there is one major doubt.
On Monday, MD‘s rival publication SPORT reported that Eder Militao had “automatically” ruled himself out of the showdown.
With the Brazilian making his comeback from injury in April after eight months on the sideline with an ACL rupture, it was thought he might be fit for the business end of the Champions League.
Ancelotti was counting on Militao to try and eliminate Bayern, but two mistakes that were almost costly against Cadiz showed he is not yet mentally ready to be thrown in the deep end in a match of such magnitude.
With David Alaba also sidelined through his own ACL knock until October, this leaves Ancelotti picking between captain Nacho or Aurelien Tchouameni to partner Antonio Rudiger in central defence – and herein lies the Italian’s doubt as per his first XI.
Ancelotti prefers midfielder Tchouameni in defence, which is where he put him in the first leg once Nacho was brought off in the second half as both men started from the outset in the Allianz Arena.
If Tchouameni begins in midfield, however, it means that Eduardo Camavinga doesn’t get the nod in a double pivot with Toni Kroos.
Ancelotti has a big decision to make, which could prove vital to Madrid being able to get its hands on a 15th UCL crown in London next month.