Zinedine Zidane is expected to display his usual starting eleven as Real Madrid take on Roma in the last-16 round of the Champions League.
The only doubt for the Frenchman is whether to include Marcelo, who has just recovered from a shoulder injury, or lineup Danilo as right-back and move Daniel Carvajal to the left, just like he did last Saturday against Athletic Bilbao.
Despite this is a very important game, Zidane doesn’t seem willing to risk Marcelo, and he has admitted the Brazilian will only play if he is 100% fit. So Danilo will most likely start again, with Carvajal featuring as left-back. Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane will be the centre-back pair one more time, since Pepe has not recovered on time for this game.
With Gareth Bale still on the sidelines, James Rodriguez will start in midfield alongside Isco, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. As usual, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo will be the forward pair, with Keylor Navas starting on goal.
This is Real Madrid’s projected XI: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; James Rodriguez, Modric, Kroos, Isco; Benzema, Ronaldo.
Luciano Spalletti has the only doubt of Daniele de Rossi, who has recovered from an injury and is not completely fit. Yet, the midfielder is expected to feature from the start.
This is Roma’s projected XI: Szczesny; Manolas, De Rossi, Rudiger; Florenzi, Pjanic, Perotti, Keita, El Shaarawy; Nainggolan; Dzeko.
RM will beat Roma.