Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa is set to make sweeping changes for Wednesday’s Champions League quarter final second leg against Bayern Munich, with Arda Guler returning to the starting lineup and an entirely new back four taking shape at the Allianz Arena.
Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, Madrid need goals. They need control. And they need a defensive setup that does not leave Virgil van Dijk sorry, Antonio Rudiger exposed.
Arbeloa has had a week to think about it. The answer? Change everything.
Tchouameni out, Camavinga in
Aurelien Tchouameni is suspended. That is a blow. The French international has been a rock in front of the defence. But Arbeloa is not panicking.
“We have many options and many players who can play where Tchouameni does,” he said in his pre match press conference. “Camavinga, Thiago, Ceballos, Valverde… We have plenty of choices.”
Eduardo Camavinga is expected to get the nod as the holding midfielder. It is a role he has wanted. A role he believes he is best suited for. Now he gets to prove it on the biggest stage.
Entire backline changed
Arbeloa is not messing about. After a shaky defensive display against Girona at the weekend, the entire back four is being replaced.
Trent Alexander Arnold, Antonio Rudiger, Dean Huijsen and Alvaro Carreras are the men tasked with keeping Bayern at bay. That means no place for Lucas Vazquez, no place for Fran Garcia, no place for anyone who started the weekend draw.
It is a gamble. But Arbeloa knows that playing it safe will not overturn a 2-1 deficit.
Guler returns as No.10
The most eye catching change is in attack. Arda Guler will start as the No.10, operating just behind the front two.
That means Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior will play as central attackers , a departure from their usual wide roles. It is a tactical tweak designed to get Madrid’s two most dangerous players closer to goal.
Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde complete the midfield. Bellingham, who made his return from injury in the first leg, is now fully fit and expected to play the full 90 minutes if needed.
Arbeloa: ‘I already know the lineup’
The Madrid boss sounded confident. Almost defiant.
“I already know the lineup I’ll field tomorrow, and I have a lot of confidence in it,” he said.
“Also in the substitutes, because it’s going to be a long match, and the eleven who start won’t be the same ones who finish. I feel privileged with the squad I have.”
He also acknowledged that Madrid cannot afford to be wasteful. The first leg offered plenty of chances. The second leg will not.
“We need to improve many aspects of our game,” Arbeloa admitted. “It’s important to convert our chances. I don’t think we’ll have as many as we did in the first leg.
“We have to score if we want to win and advance. We have to play very well tomorrow.”
Predicted Real Madrid XI (4-3-1-2)
Lunin; Alexander Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Camavinga, Bellingham; Guler; Mbappe, Vinicius Junior.
The bottom line
Arbeloa has rolled the dice. New backline. New formation. Guler pulling the strings. Mbappe and Vinicius through the middle.
It is bold. It is aggressive. And it is exactly what Madrid need.
The Allianz Arena awaits. Bayern are favourites. But Madrid have a plan. Now they have to execute it.
