Real Madrid: Expectations for each player in the second leg at Liverpool

Real Madrid will travel to Anfield for the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, having won the first leg 3-1 behind a brace from Vinicius Junior and a goal from Marco Asensio. As in the first match against Liverpool, Los Blancos will be without star defenders Raphael Varane, Dani Carvajal, and Sergio Ramos. And now, they will also miss super-sub right back Lucas Vazquez, who is done for the season following an injury in El Clasico.

So despite a seemingly commanding lead, nothing is guaranteed for the Merengue club. They must turn in a complete performance in the second leg at Anfield in order to secure a spot in the semifinal matches that will be played on April 27.

Here are expectations for each predicted starter in Real Madrid’s XI come Wednesday night.

GK Thibaut Courtois

Although Thibaut Courtois was not kept busy against Liverpool, he had an eventful Clasico. Without Courtois, Los Blancos would not have won the match, which put Real Madrid in a good position to swoop in and take La Liga over crosstown rivals Atletico Madrid.

Courtois will want to have a clean sheet against the Reds this time around after being beaten by Mohamed Salah in the first leg. Though he could honestly do nothing about the goal, Courtois, like any goalkeeper, takes it upon himself to be perfect in each game. And if Real can remain perfect defensively, they are guaranteed to go through.