Real Madrid will travel to the Parc des Princes to take on PSG in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16. The Los Blancos have had a slow start to 2022. They lost to Getafe, then to Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey. And this weekend, Real dropped more points, drawing Villarreal 0-0 due to a pile of missed chances and another woeful first-half performance. Real will be hoping Karim Benzema and Ferland Mendy, two crucial starters, will be able to return to the starting lineup this Tuesday night against PSG.
Here is a look at the predicted starting XI for Real Madrid at PSG in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16.
Defense
Thibaut Courtois
Thibaut Courtois has been in impeccable form for the Los Blancos and has risen to the occasion several times this season. He has made some very important saves for them, which helped them secure all three points and stay at the position where they are now. He has played all six group stage matches, keeping four clean sheets, and only conceding three goals. He made a total of 22 saves and averaged 3.67 saves per 90 minutes.
Ferland Mendy
Mendy has been declared fit by Real Madrid last week and is most certainly going to start this game for the Los Blancos. There is no other option at the left-back position other than shifting David Alaba over, which seems to be something Carlo Ancelotti would rather avoid. Madrid do have the option to shift David Alaba to the left if Mendy is fully fit, but Ancelotti would want his fit squad combination to start a match of this magnitude.
David Alaba
David Alaba will be one of the most important players on the pitch for Real Madrid. They will need him to be calm on the ball, push up the pitch when necessary, and continue to put his body on the line to make blocks. A big-game player, Alaba must be elite if Real are to survive this first leg without a loss.
Eder Militao
As good as David Alaba has been in his first season with Los Blancos, Eder Militao has been Real’s best centre-back. That is a testament to the level he has reached in his first full season as a starter. Militao has completed 80.85% of his defensive actions and has been a vital part of Madrid’s backline.
Dani Carvajal
Carvajal has not been Real Madrid’s most consistent player this season. He has put up some impressive performances for them but was not at his best against Villareal. That cannot be repeated against PSG. Carvajal must be at his best defensively to give Real a chance, and he must also provide adequate support in the attack for the right-winger. His importance to Real’s Champions League chances cannot be underestimated.
Midfield
Toni Kroos
Kroos does what he needs to do for Real Madrid in the midfield. He slows the game down when it is required and builds up the pace when there is a need. Kroos has attempted 86.43 passes per 90 minutes and has a very high pass accuracy rate of almost 95%. He also has an accuracy of 96% for the passes that he has played into the final third.
Kroos always manages to find space if and when there is high pressure from the opposition. He knows how to deal with that pressure from the opponents and has the skill to find the right pass under pressure. We’ve often seen him link up with other players to break through the press. The pass sonar indicates that Kroos has played a majority of his passes to the right and has generated a high xT from these passes. His pass start locations indicate that he does drift to the wider areas to help keep possession of the ball.
Casemiro
Casemiro has been inconsistent in 2021-2022, although he was great in Villarreal’s clean sheet draw. With his defensive responsibilities, Casemiro will have a significant impact on the game, and he should have more passing freedom than most opponents. He tends to come up in important games and can put up a great performance as a defensive midfielder.
Luka Modric
Luka Modric is now 36 years old, and still has a vital role in Real Madrid’s midfield. He’s still one of the best midfielders in the world. There aren’t many players in the history of football that have played at this high level till the age of 36. His passing metrics in the Champions League indicate that his stats are significantly higher than the median league value. Modric has an expected assist rate of 0.22 per 90 minutes. He has played 74.65 passes on an average in each match and has a high pass accuracy rate of 93.67%. Modric seemed a little slow after a strong January, but he should be able to pick things up against PSG. He is another world-class midfielder who shines on the big stage. After watching the right flank struggle without him, he needs to step up and assert himself on the field.
Forwards
Real Madrid were one of the best teams in the group stages. Their attacking metrics indicate they put up significantly better numbers than the median league value. They have completed 46% of the attacking actions they have attempted and have a high success rate with their offensive duels.
Vinicius Jr.
Vinicius Jr. is one of the players in the squad who cannot be sidelined. With the form he has been in this season, he should be the first name on the sheet for Ancelotti. The Brazilian winger was very good against Villarreal despite not having the end product.
Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema is still a doubt for this game, but Madrid will want their top goal-scorer to be a part of the squad, and Benzema himself wouldn’t want to miss this game. Real Madrid have a lot of great and important players, but as we have seen recently, the team falls apart without Benzema attacking-wise. Benzema playing and being able to play well could be the difference between a first-leg win or loss against PSG.
Gareth Bale
The right-wing has been a position for Ancelotti which has raised several doubts as no player has been at their very best on the right. He has options like Hazard, Rodrygo, and Asensio on the right, but Ancelotti might go to Gareth Bale to start in this position. Bale is a smart player off the ball and has the technique to score goals from nothing. He is the biggest threat to making the difference in a match like this at the right-wing position.