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Liverpool, Real face off tonight


Bangladeshpost
Published : 05 Apr 2021 09:13 PM

Agencies

Two of the most successful teams in the history of the European Cup will lock horns in the Spanish capital on Tuesday night as Real Madrid welcome Liverpool for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.

Madrid, who are 13-time winners of the competition, will be looking to secure an advantage at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium ahead of the reverse fixture at Anfield on April 14.

Madrid will be without the services of inspirational captain Sergio Ramos on Tuesday due to a calf problem, while the match is also expected to come too soon for Dani Carvajal and Federico Valverde.

Eden Hazard has made huge steps forward in his recovery from a muscular problem, though, and the Belgium international is expected to be a part of the squad for the Champions League fixture.

Raphael Varane was rested against Eibar on Saturday but will be back in the side for this match, while Toni Kroos and Vinicius Junior are also expected to start, with Zidane likely to set his side up in a 3-5-2 formation.

As for Liverpool, Klopp will largely have the same squad available from the Arsenal match, with Jordan Henderson, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk all definitely out.

There is a chance that Caoimhin Kelleher and Divock Origi could return to the bench on Tuesday, while Georginio Wijnaldum might replace James Milner in the middle of the park.

Jota came off the bench to score twice against Arsenal, meaning that Klopp has a big decision to make in the final third of the field, but it would not be a surprise to see the Portugal international start on the bench once again, with Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino lining up as the front three.