Luka Modric has handed Real Madrid a major selection boost as he returns to start for their Champions League clash with Manchester City tonight.
The first leg at the Bernabeu had been a question mark for the Croatian midfielder, who has only just made his playing return from a hamstring injury.
Modric though came off the bench in Saturday’s Copa del Rey final victory over Osasuna after two games out, and he comes into the midfield alongside Toni Kroos and Federico Valverde.
Real are without reserve midfielder Dani Ceballos due to a thigh muscle injury and in defence, Ferland Mendy (calf) and Eder Militao (suspended) are unavailable.
That leads to Eduardo Camavinga continuing at left-back having nailed down his place in the Madrid XI lately, with Antonio Rudiger coming into the centre of defence.
Rodrygo’s impressive form keeps him in the team after his winning brace in the Copa final.
Starting XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Camavinga; Valverde, Kroos, Modric; Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius.
Subs: Lunin, Lopez, Vallejo, Nacho, Hazard, Asensio, Odriozola, Lucas, Tchouameni, Ceballos, Mariano
Date: 8pm BST, Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu
TV and live stream: BT Sport
Referee: Artur Dias (Portugal)
