In Warsaw, a comfortable position awaits Shakhtar Donetsk as Real Madrid faces a test against a club in fine form with five points separating second place. The German capital club arrives hoping to manage rotations while keeping the core of its squad ready for the busy schedule ahead. Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio are under scrutiny to show they deserve regular involvement, especially during a week that brings the classic clash into sharper focus for Spanish football fans.
With fresh faces in the squad, Ancelotti aims to preserve the peace within the group while attempting to shift the balance of their recent head-to-head battles. Real Madrid has still shown strength, despite a few clear chances going unconverted, tallying two goals in Madrid against Shakhtar at the Santiago Bernabéu. The team has had a stretch of four goals across three outings, a pace that hints at a potential wobble but has not yet disrupted results—one draw away at Osasuna and otherwise unbroken wins that have started the season strongly.
The solution to any perceived issues has a name: Karim Benzema. The French striker is back in action after an absence due to a muscle issue, and he has yet to reach the two-game sprint he once expected this season. Since his brace against Espanyol on August 28, he has managed to cross the 300-minute mark without scoring again, and there is an eagerness to reconnect with the target as a Madridista reference in the classic. The Brazilian duo of Vinícius Jr. and Rodrygo may be rested, creating an opportunity for Eden Hazard and Marco Asensio to step forward in the attack.
Rotations in Ancelotti’s plan include deploying players like Lucas Vázquez and Nacho Fernández in defensive roles. The XI is expected to feature veterans who have rested at Getafe, with Ferland Mendy and Toni Kroos returning to action as well, adding depth to a squad already balancing league and continental duties.
Now is the moment to demonstrate squad depth, given the impossibility of using every player in a schedule that squeezes three matches per week ahead of the World Cup break.
Real Madrid has built credibility away from home in the Champions League, having won four consecutive group-stage fixtures while producing an extraordinary average of twelve goals per game with only one conceded. The aim remains to sustain that form into the knockout rounds and maintain momentum in La Liga as the title race with Barcelona continues to unfold.
Shakhtar hopes to repeat the impressive football shown in the previous week in Warsaw, especially after the second half of their match against Besiktas in Istanbul, and translate that performance to the Santiago Bernabéu.
Despite recent upheaval in Ukraine that affected the rhythm of competitive play, the Donetsk side arrives with a young core, most players in their early twenties, ready to back their coach Ígor Jovicevic. The former Castilla player will look to Mudryk to exploit space behind Dani Carvajal, using vertical runs to stretch Real Madrid and create opportunities. The Ukrainians will again likely lean on a compact and energetic approach, hoping to contend with Madrid’s pace and pressure in the central areas.
No changes are expected in the typical starting lineup, though Sikan and Afrika Traoré could earn minutes if things go badly early. Benzema’s involvement may force Jovicevic to adapt, possibly positioning Stepanenko as a high-intensity midfielder to press Madrid’s attack and provide a hunting presence in midfield.
Shakhtar currently sit second in the group with four points, but a loss could drop them behind Leipzig, presenting another hurdle in the battle to reach the knockout stage. The Ukrainians remain hopeful that the Donbas team will deliver a memorable performance on a night that also carries significance beyond football, as Ukraine’s inclusion in the World Cup bid for Spain and Portugal in 2030 continues to gather support and momentum.
Data sheet:
Shakhtar: Trubin; Konoplya, Bondar, Matviienko, Mykhaylichenko; Stepanenko, Mudryk, Sudakov, Bondarenko, Shved; Zubkov.
Real Madrid: Lunin; Lucas Vázquez, Nacho, Rudiger, Mendy; Kroos, Camavinga, Modrić; Asensio, Hazard, Benzema.
Referee: Orel Grinfeeld (ISR)
Stadium: Legia Warsaw Municipal Stadium.
Kick-off: 21:00 CET (19:00 GMT).