In the fourth round of the UEFA Champions League group stage, Real Madrid will face Liverpool away. Right winger Mastantono is sidelined due to a groin injury and will miss this crucial Champions League clash; Arnold is not yet 100% fit and will not start. On November 3, Marca reported that Real Madrid’s head coach Alonso has finalized the starting XI — replicating the 4-4-2 formation from the Clasico.
Alonso’s Real Madrid has been in excellent form this season, winning 10 of 11 La Liga matches and starting the Champions League with three consecutive victories, totaling 13 wins in 14 games across all competitions. According to AS, the remarkable start by the new Real Madrid coach is the best since the 1928-29 season — 97 years ago!
Before this Champions League showdown, Real Madrid has both good news and bad news.
Real Madrid officially confirmed that 18-year-old right winger Mastantono is sidelined with a groin injury. It is a very complex injury, with a recovery period that could take weeks or even months. Mastantono’s groin injury is similar to that of Barcelona’s young star Jamal. According to COPE radio, Mastantono will miss the Champions League clash against Liverpool.
Another key figure for this clash, Arnold, is also not fully recovered. The 27-year-old Arnold is expected to rest for eight weeks and is currently in his seventh week. He will travel with Real Madrid to Liverpool but is highly unlikely to start against his former club.
How will Real Madrid line up against Liverpool? Marca reports that coach Alonso already has the answer: the starting XI that defeated Barcelona 2-1 in the Clasico will be the same eleven players at Anfield:
Courtois in goal
Captain Valverde at right-back
Militao and Heisen as center-backs
Carreras at left-back
Camavinga, Gvardiol, Tchouaméni, and Bellingham forming a diamond midfield
Mbappé and Vinicius as the two forwards
In this lineup, Tchouaméni acts as the midfield shield, Camavinga provides defensive support for Valverde, and Bellingham and Gvardiol form the double core. If Vinicius plays wide, Bellingham can push further forward. In the 2-1 Clasico win, Vinicius’s attacking bursts were very effective, completely dominating Koundé; Mbappé and Bellingham contributed goals. Alonso hopes to use the same strategy to secure all three points at Anfield. This season, Mbappé has scored 13 goals in La Liga and 5 in the Champions League, aiming for his 20th goal of the season.
