Real Madrid vs AC Milan predicted lineups and team news

Real Madrid will look to bounce back from their shock El Clasico defeat to Barcelona when they play host to AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Real Madrid vs AC Milan predicted lineups

Real Madrid (4-3-3): Lunin; Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga, Modric; Bellingham; Vinicius, Mbappe

AC Milan (4-3-3): Maignan; Emerson, Thiaw, Tomori, Hernandez; Loftus-Cheek, Fofana, Reijnders; Pulisic, Morata, Leao

Carlo Ancelotti’s side have had over a week to prepare for Tuesday’s encounter after their weekend La Liga clash at Valencia was postponed. And they will be desperate for the win to improve their position of 12th in the Champions League standings.

AC Milan come into the game on the back of a 1-0 win over Monza, but they have ground to make up in both Serie A and the Champions League after a slow start to both competitions.

Hosts out to prove a point

Reigning La Liga champions Real Madrid have some work to do if they are to defend their crown.

Ancelotti’s team have a game in hand over rivals Barcelona, but are nine points behind them after losing the first El Clasico of the season 4-0 at the Bernabeu. Real Madrid have also been held to draws by Mallorca, Las Palmas and Atletico Madrid.

The Clasico defeat was a reality check for Los Blancos, who had won three games in a row beforehand.

While there is no need for Madrid fans to panic just yet, they do need to improve their performances defensively. Los Blancos have kept only one clean sheet in their last nine games in all competitions, and only three in eight games at home this season.

AC Milan, meanwhile, have won three of their last four games in all competitions to find some form. But they have lost two of their three games in Europe, defeated 3-1 by Liverpool on matchday one, before losing 1-0 at Bayer Leverkusen in their second outing.

Paulo Fonseca’s men managed to stop the rot with a 3-1 success over Club Brugge last time out, and they will expect to at least cause their hosts some problems, having scored in 11 of their 13 matches in all competitions this season.

Real Madrid vs AC Milan team news

Ancelotti will once again be without Rodrygo, David Alaba, Dani Carvajal, and Thibaut Courtois, but centre-back Antonio Rudiger is expected to return after a recent knee problem.

Forwards Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe are due to lead the line, while Jude Bellingham, Luka Modric and Eduardo Camavinga are expected to start in midfield.

Fonesca also has several injury woes to deal with, with Luka Jovic, Alessandro Florenzi, Ismael Bennacer and Matteo Gabbia all sidelined.

Striker Tammy Abraham was back in the squad against Monza at the weekend though, so he should be able to feature if needed.

Alvaro Morata and Rafael Leao are expected to keep Abraham out of the starting XI, while the likes of Fikayo Tomori, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic are all expected to be involved.