RB Leipzig vs Real Madrid lineups: Starting XIs, confirmed team news and injury latest for Champions League
Jude Bellingham misses out for Real Madrid in their Champions League clash with RB Leipzig tonight.
The England midfielder sprained his ankle in the weekend win over Girona, ruling him out for at least a couple of weeks.
Since arriving in the summer, Bellingham has been a central figure in Carlo Ancelotti’s 4-4-2 diamond formation but this will not be his first absence of the season and the Real coach has previously been well-prepared with an alternative.
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Brahim Diaz has replaced Bellingham on each previous occasion and starts in Germany.
However Leipzig boss Marco Rose, Bellingham’s former boss at Borussia Dortmund, remarked: “I don't believe he'll be out until he's not in the stadium [on Tuesday]. I know Jude, he will do everything to play the Champions League game.
“He might see other doctors [on Monday] in order to be fit. I've read a lot but we'll see if he's here or not.”
Meanwhile, Madrid have an injury crisis in defence to contend with. Antonio Rudiger will miss out, along with long-term absentees Eder Militao and David Alaba.
Nacho Fernandez returns however, after Dani Carvajal and Aurelien Tchouameni formed a makeshift central defensive partnership against Girona.
Leipzig have almost a fully fit squad to pick from, including captain Willi Orban after his recent return from a knee injury. However, Amadou Haidara does not feature after returning from Mali’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a knee problem.
Confirmed RB Leipzig XI: Gulacsi; Simakan, Orban, Klostermann, Raum; Schlager, Henrichs, Olmo; Openda, Sesko, Simmons
Subs: Blaswich, Zingerle - Lenz, Elmas, Bitshiabu, Haidara, Seiwald, Baumgartner, Poulsen, Lukeba, Jatta, Kampl
Confirmed Real Madrid XI: Lunin; Carvajal, Tchouameni, Nacho, Mendy; Kroos, Valverde, Camavinga; Rodyrgo, Brahim, Vinicius Jr
Subs: Kepa, Fran, Modric, Joselu, Vasquez, Ceballos, Fran Garcia, Guler, Martin, Paz, Carrillo, Ramon
Time and date: 8pm GMT, Tuesday February 13, 2024
Venue: Red Bull Arena
TV channel: TNT Sports
