Real Madrid eyes a swift path to the knockout stage against Braga at the Bernabéu
The white team aims to clinch a spot in the round of 16 at the Santiago Bernabéu, with Bellingham among the players involved in the push for qualification.
Real Madrid hosts SC Braga at the Santiago Bernabéu in a match on the fourth day of Group C of the 2023/24 Champions League. Riding a string of success in this season’s European campaign, the Spanish giants seek to seal advancement to the knockout rounds with two group games remaining.
In their last continental outing, Madrid beat the Portuguese side 2-1 away from home. Another home win would push Carlo Ancelotti’s side closer to a round of 16 ticket and could even secure top spot in the group if Napoli fail to defeat Union Berlin in the other fixture.
Braga, meanwhile, arrives in Madrid determined to stay in the running for qualification and to at least secure a path to the Europa League if needed.
GOAL previews the likely lineups for the match, set for Wednesday, November 8 at 9:00 PM local time.
With Bellingham back and a big chance for Nico Paz
The squad call for the match included a notable surprise: the return of Jude Bellingham. Although sidelined with a shoulder dislocation suffered against Rayo Vallecano last Sunday, the English midfielder trained with the group on Tuesday and faced moments of discomfort during the session. His participation remains a question mark for the game, given the lingering issue and the prior absence of Dani Ceballos and Tchouaméni due to injuries.
As a result, coach Carlo Ancelotti recalled Nico Paz to the squad, as happened in the previous weekend. The Argentine youngster, a Castilla prospect, has yet to debut for the first team. With midfield options thin on the ground, Paz could finally be handed his senior bow and become a significant catalyst for Real Madrid in the midfield engine room.
Braga arrives in compelling form
Wednesday’s clash will mark a historic occasion for SC Braga, who will play at the Bernabéu for the first time in the club’s 102-year history. Braga travel with notable confidence, having endured just one defeat in their last nine matches across all competitions. Their momentum was underscored by a 6-1 league triumph over Portimonense last weekend, a game highlighted by a hat-trick from striker Banza.
Real Madrid lineup considerations
The following is Carlo Ancelotti’s squad announcement for the match against SC Braga:
The starting XI had not been finalized at the time of the report.
SC Braga lineup considerations
Artur Jorge’s selection for the trip to Madrid includes the following players:
- Goalkeepers: Matheus, Tiago Sá and Lukas Hornicek.
- Defenders: Niakaté, Serdar, Fonte, Paulo Oliveira, Joe Mendes, Adrián Marin, Victor Gómez and Borja.
- Midfielders: André Horta, Zalazar, Vitor Carvalho, Pizzi, Castro, João Moutinho and Al Musrati.
- Forwards: Bruma, Abel Ruiz, Álvaro Djaló, Rony Lopes, Ricardo Horta and Banza.
The starting lineup had not been confirmed yet.
Source: Goal