Returning Real Madrid star likely to start against Bayern Munich in UCL

Returning Real Madrid star likely to start against Bayern Munich in UCL

Following a disappointing result against Girona, Real Madrid will shift their attention to the midweek Champions League encounter against Bayern Munich.

The Spanish giants are heading into this game on the back of a 2-1 loss in the first leg. Things could get even trickier at the Allianz Arena, especially given the form Bayern are in.

Alvaro Arbeloa’s team setup against Girona offered the first glimpse of how the Real Madrid lineup could look against Bayern in midweek.

Eder Militao likely to start

As reported by Diario AS, one of the obvious decisions Arbeloa could take this midweek is to start Eder Militao.

The report suggests it is likely the Brazilian international will start against Bayern as he is currently the best defender at Real Madrid and inspires the most confidence.

This is hard to argue against, as Militao has indeed shown brilliant form and fitness since returning to action after yet another injury layoff.

Militao is expected to start against Bayern. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Militao’s presence in the starting eleven, though, could come at the expense of one of Real Madrid’s existing centre-back pairings in Antonio Rudiger and Dean Huijsen.

Huijsen is likely to be the sacrificial lamb as Rudiger’s experience and form could be critical in a game of this magnitude.

Interestingly, Arbeloa decided to rest all four defenders who started against Bayern for the weekend encounter against Girona, which is why Militao started alongside Raul Asencio in the first place.

The Brazilian was then promptly taken out at around the hour mark, and it won’t be surprising to see him get the nod ahead of Huijsen, when Real Madrid take on Bayern Munich in the second leg at the Allianz Arena.