Real Madrid have been boosted by the return of Federico Valverde for tonight’s Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid.
Valverde missed Saturday’s shock 2-1 LaLiga loss at Real Betis through injury, but returns to the starting lineup this evening as captain.
The Uruguay international operated at right-back in both knockout play-off ties against Manchester City and does so again tonight with Lucas Vazquez dropping to the bench. Raul Asencio also replaces David Alaba.
Jude Bellingham misses the round of 16 first-leg meeting at the Santiago Bernabeu after picking up his third Champions League yellow card of the season during the 3-1 second-leg win over City.
Federico Valverde has given Real Madrid a huge boost
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In addition, fellow midfielder Dani Ceballos is sidelined with a leg injury sustained in the Copa del Rey semi-final first-leg win over Real Sociedad last week that is expected to keep him out of action for several weeks.
This does leave the current holders of the competition short of numbers in the engine room, but they have more than enough quality to cope with the absences.
Eduardo Camavinga returns to the starting lineup alongside Aurelien Tchouameni, with regular skipper Luka Modric on the bench.
In attack, Kylian Mbappe starts despite not training much recently due to a problem with his tooth. The Frenchman will lead the line, supported by Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Brahim Diaz.
Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy, Tchouameni, Camavinga, Rodrygo, Brahim, Mbappe, Vinicius Jr
Subs: Lunin, Fran Gonzalez, Alaba, Modric, Arda Guler, Endrick, Lucas Vazquez, Fran Garcia
Injured: Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal, Dani Ceballos, Jesus Vallejo
Suspended: Jude Bellingham
Return: Julian Alvarez
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Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid are nearly at full strength as Diego Simeone aims to build on the clean sheet from Saturday’s 1-0 win over Athletic Club – a result that saw them leapfrog their rivals in the LaLiga table.
Captain Koke misses out through injury, so too Cesar Azpilicueta. There are recalls in defence for Marcos Llorente and Jose Maria Gimenez in place of Nahuel Molina and Robin Le Normand. Julian Alvarez starts up front in place of Alexander Sorloth.
Atletico Madrid XI: Oblak, Gimenez, Llorente, Lenglet, Javi Galan, De Paul, Barrios, Lino, Giuliano, Griezmann, Alvarez
Subs: Musso, Gomis, Molina, Witsel, Reinildo, Le Normand, Gallagher, Lemar, Riquelme, Sorloth, Correa
Injured: Koke, Cesar Azpilicueta
Time and date: 8pm GMT on Tuesday 4 March 2025
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu
TV channel and live stream: TNT Sports