Real Madrid Predicted Lineup vs. Sheriff in the Champions League: Time to rest Vinicius Junior?

Real Madrid have returned from the international break looking strong and ready to continue their fight in all competitions after a convincing win against Granada over the weekend will definitely give them what they need to keep going on Wednesday night when they take on Sheriff Tiraspol in the UEFA Champions League. Could this possibly be a time where resting certain key players such as Vinicius Junior or Karim Benzema be a good idea? The clear thing is that there won’t be many opportunities to do so this season.

Goalkeeper

One player who definitely is not expected to get any rest for this game is Thibaut Courtois as the Belgian goalkeeper will continue being a vital part of the squad regardless of the opposition faced. This is surely something that Andriy Lunin will have some trouble with, but he’s a professional and is aware that sooner or later, his time will come to show that he is good enough to play more often.

Defenders

The rotations will most probably begin here as Lucas Vazquez will be expected to start at right-back to give Dani Carvajal a rest after he played with the Spanish National Team before being named as a starter against Granada over the weekend. In the center, Eder Militao will be returning after he was rested. He will be alongside Nacho Fernandez, as this is a great chance to give David Alaba some time off. On the left, could we see our captain make a rare start? It’s a little doubtful since Ferland Mendy could start this match since he wasn’t called up with France, but at the moment, this is a coin toss.

Midfielders

It would be good to see Carlos Casemiro getting some rest but at the same time, it’s doubtful that Ancelotti will want to make too many amendments to the lineup. In front of Casemiro will be Eduardo Camavinga, and he will possibly slot alongside Toni Kroos. Luka Modric needs the rest at the moment, and Kroos has enough fuel in the tank to keep things going. We could see Antonio Blanco get some minutes depending on how the game goes as well.

Forwards

Up front, consistency will be the key for Marco Asensio after a very solid performance against Granada. He will take his place on the right flank but the changes start from there. Vinicius Junior has been integral in how the team plays and he’s a major reason behind why they have been doing well so far during the season. However, even though he is young and full of energy, he needs to rest whenever possible and this is a great opportunity to give him that rest.

Rodrygo Goes could be starting ahead of him on the left wing, while a player with a massive point to prove could finally get his chance up front. Luka Jovic still has not started a game this season and putting him in the team ahead of Karim Benzema, who is another player that should be rested, could do wonders for the Serbian forward. Jovic has found some trouble making an impact during the limited time he’s getting on the pitch so far this season.

Full Predicted Starting Lineup

Thibaut Courtois, Lucas Vazquez, Eder Militao, Nacho Fernandez, Ferland Mendy, Carlos Casemiro, Eduardo Camavinga, Toni Kroos, Marco Asensio, Rodrygo Goes, Luka Jovic