Real Madrid have put their hopes in the Champions League, given that their chances to catching Barcelona in La Liga seem smaller every week.
Thus, Los Blancos visit to Roma will be crucial for Zinedine Zidane, who will very likely complete another trophy-less season if they also fail in the European competition.
The French manager has recovered Marcelo for this game, although there are some doubts that the Brazilian is completely fit after suffering a shoulder injury. Zidane has said he will not line him up unless he is 100% fit, so Danilo could start again at right-back, moving Daniel Carvajal to the left.
On the other hand, Zidane will miss Pepe and Gareth Bale. Both of them were expected to recover on time for this match, but they still remain on the sidelines. Raphael Varane will replace the Portuguese one more time at centre-back, while James Rodriguez will feature in Bale’s spot.
This will be Zidane’s first Champions League match as a manager. Just like Real Madrid, Roma also dismissed their manager during the winter transfer market, and Luciano Spalletti will also make his debut in the competition this season.
The Italian manager will recover Daniele de Rossi and Francesco Totti, although the playmaker is not expected to feature from the start. The 39-year-old has only started twice for Roma this season.
Possible line-ups:
Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; James Rodriguez, Modric, Kroos, Isco; Benzema, Ronaldo.
Roma: Szczesny; Manolas, De Rossi, Rudiger; Florenzi, Pjanic, Perotti, Keita, El Shaarawy; Nainggolan; Dzeko.
