Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund - Champions League 2016-17
Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain
Wednesday, December 7 2016 - 8:45 PM - 20:45 CET
Real Madrid, who are yet lose a UCL match this season,
currently sit 2nd in the group table with 11 points (W3 D2) and trail
leaders Dortmund by two points. Hence, they have the chance to leapfrog
the German outfit with a victory. The direct match played in Germany
resulted in 2-2 draw at Dortmund’s home soil. Los Blancos' unbeaten
start to the season continued on Saturday as a 90th minute Sergio Ramos
equaliser earned them a point in El Clasico against FC Barcelona, a draw
that kept Zidane's men at the top of La Liga BBVA standings with a 6
points gap over the Blaugrana.
Toni Kroos and Alvaro Morata have both resumed training but they are expected to sit on the bench for this crucial match. Right backs Danilo and Fabio Coentrao are both doubtful. Gareth Bale is the only long-term absentee for the hosts as the Welshman will be on the sidelines for the next 4 months. Lucas Vazquez is set to replace Bale with Zidane expected to make minimal changes to the side who started at the Camp Nou at the weekend.
Toni Kroos and Alvaro Morata have both resumed training but they are expected to sit on the bench for this crucial match. Right backs Danilo and Fabio Coentrao are both doubtful. Gareth Bale is the only long-term absentee for the hosts as the Welshman will be on the sidelines for the next 4 months. Lucas Vazquez is set to replace Bale with Zidane expected to make minimal changes to the side who started at the Camp Nou at the weekend.
Borussia Dortmund team recorded an impressive 4-1 win over Monchengladbach on Saturday to bounce back from their away defeat to
Eintracht Frankfurt the previous week. They have not been quite as
reliable with two domestic losses on the road and only one clean sheet
away from home this season, but their Champions League form has been
very impressive. In Europe, Dortmund lead Group F table with 13 points,
having won four and drawn one out of their five group matches played so
far.
Mario Gotze who misses the trip to Spain through injury. The German international has joined Roman Burki, Raphael Guerreiro and Sven Bender on the sidelines. Marco Reus will be assessed tomorrow after he came down with a cold. Aubameyang is likelty to spearhead the attack in a 4-1-4-1 formation which will also inclued Ousmane Dembelè and Shinji Kagawa among the offensive midfielders. Neven Subotic is still recovering from injury and is unlikely to feature, along with Marcel Schmelzer, Raphael Guerreiro and Erik Durm who are all doubtful.
Mario Gotze who misses the trip to Spain through injury. The German international has joined Roman Burki, Raphael Guerreiro and Sven Bender on the sidelines. Marco Reus will be assessed tomorrow after he came down with a cold. Aubameyang is likelty to spearhead the attack in a 4-1-4-1 formation which will also inclued Ousmane Dembelè and Shinji Kagawa among the offensive midfielders. Neven Subotic is still recovering from injury and is unlikely to feature, along with Marcel Schmelzer, Raphael Guerreiro and Erik Durm who are all doubtful.
Probable lineups:
Real Madrid: Navas – Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo – Casemiro, Modric – Vazquez, Isco, C.Ronaldo – Benzema.
Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller – Piszczek, Sokratis, Ginter, Schmelzer – Weigl – Castro, Dembele, M.Gotze, Schurrle(Reus) – Aubameyang.
