
Date: Wednesday 20th September, 2023
Time: 5:45 pm
Stadium Estadio Santiago Bernabeu
Referee Espen Eskaas (Norway)
Goal Scorer:
Real Madrid
Real Madrid managed to recover one injured player at the weekend, with Dani Ceballos in a matchday squad for the first time this season, having overcome a hamstring issue.
Ferland Mendy could be back for this contest, but Los Blancos will again definitely be without the services of key trio Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao and Vinicius Junior, while summer arrival Arda Guler is still unavailable.
Dani Carvajal is also out with a muscular issue that he suffered in training, which could lead to Lucas Vazquez starting at right-back.
Joselu has impressed alongside Rodrygo in the final third of the field, and the pair are set to continue their partnership on Wednesday.
Eduardo Camavinga is likely to be recalled in place of Toni Kroos, who is no longer a guaranteed starter, while Luka Modric has already been confirmed to be in the XI by Ancelotti.
Jude Bellingham will get his first taste of Champions League football in a Real Madrid shirt, meanwhile, and the 20-year-old has been in excellent form this season, already finding the back of the net on five occasions.
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Kepa; Vazquez, Rudiger, Alaba, F Garcia; Modric, Tchouameni, Camavinga; Bellingham; Joselu, Rodrygo
Union Berlin
Union Berlin, meanwhile, will be without the services of Rani Khedira, Andras Schafer and Laurenz Dehl for the contest in the Spanish capital through injury.
Kevin Volland is currently serving a Bundesliga suspension, but the forward is available for this contest and will more than likely provide an option off the bench.
Kevin Behrens has been the team's main source of goals early in the season, finding the back of the net on four occasions, and he will again feature in the final third of the field.
There is also likely to be a start for on-loan Chelsea forward David Datro Fofana, although the experienced Leonardo Bonucci is set to feature among the substitutes for the first whistle.
Union Berlin possible starting lineup:
Ronnow; Doekhi, Knoche, Leite; Juranovic, Laidouni, Kral, Aaronson, Gosens; Fofana, Behrens
Prediction: Real Madrid 3-1 Union Berlin
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