Real Madrid need to beat Roma on Wednesday night to make it two out of two in the Champions League this season. It will be a very different game to the one they had against Inter at the Bernabeu a few weeks ago, especially with the way the club has been playing lately.
Real Madrid weren't impressive against Atletico Madrid in their loss, to say the least, and even in the win against Villarreal they did not look too good.
The test against Roma is going to be very difficult to manage, but hopefully Jose Mourinho picks the right lineup for the game. Whether he will do that, though, is a different question altogether.
Predicted lineup for Real Madrid's clash against Roma in the Champions League on Wednesday
GK Thibaut Courtois
Thibaut Courtois will keep his spot between the sticks for Real Madrid as they gear up to face Mourinho's former team. It is going to be a difficult night for Courtois because Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are playing some of the best football of their respective careers. However, if there is any one player you would trust in that situation, it is Courtois..
RB Denzel Dumfries
Denzel Dumfries did not start against Villarreal on Saturday. Given how much Mourinho has preferred him over Trent Alexander-Arnold, he will return to the starting XI against Roma. In theory, it makes a little bit more sense because Real Madrid are going to need a defensive shift from Dumfries, and he is supposed to be good on that side. The truth, however, is that Trent has been better on both ends for Real Madrid this season, but even then, Denzel Dumfries will be the player who starts over him.
CB Dean Huijsen
Dean Huijsen will return to the starting 11 after a suspension that he served. Against Villarreal, Hausen has generally been a really good centre-back for Real Madrid this season, and his partnership with Ibrahima Konate has been very good. Expect that to continue.
CB Ibrahima Konate
Ibrahima Konate will be an important player for Real Madrid for a number of reasons. His pace and strength will be very important at managing the duo of Malen and Dybala. He has been a very consistent presence at centre-back for the club this season, and that will continue against Roma.
LB Marc Cucurella
Marc Cucurella will return to the starting 11 after being benched against Villarreal. He is the team's best left-back, and despite him not being in the best of form, he will definitely start in this match.
DM Fede Valverde
Federico Valverde played some of his best football as a right-back and right midfielder a few days ago, but Mourinho will bring him back into the midfield against Roma, even though there are better options to go for, based on form and the kind of profiles they need for this game.
DM Aurelien Tchouameni
Aurelien Tchouameni does not work well with Valverde, but Mourinho has been persistent about starting him in every single game, and that will continue on Wednesday. Hopefully, the partnership works much better than it has over the last few years, but truth be told, the expectations are not very high.
AM Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham will continue to play as Real Madrid's number ten. He has been Madrid's most consistent player this season, and there is no doubt that he will be the first name on the team sheet.
RW Yan Diomande
Yan Diomande had a good performance against Villarreal and he will keep his space place in the lineup when they go up against Roma. He will probably play on the right and it will be interesting to see how well he does on that side of the pitch.
LW Vinicius Junior
Vinícius Junior will come back to the starting eleven after being benched for the game against Villarreal. He got a red card in that game, which will rule him out for at least two La Liga games, which is why Mourinho will probably try to start him in every single Champions League game in the next couple of weeks.
CF Kylian Mbappe
Kylian Mbappé will start the game against Roma and will try his best to improve his goal-scoring numbers.
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