Jornada 4 Champions: Alineaciones y Ausencias
The fourth round of Champions League action is upon us, with crucial matches across the continent that could shape the group stage standings. As teams battle for a place in the knockout stages, let's dive into the predicted lineups and key absences for some of the most anticipated clashes.
Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund:
Real Madrid will be looking to bounce back from their recent defeat to Girona in La Liga when they face Borussia Dortmund at the Santiago Bernabéu. Carlo Ancelotti is expected to field a strong lineup, with Karim Benzema leading the attack alongside Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo. However, Eder Militao remains sidelined with a muscle injury, while Dani Carvajal is a doubt.
Borussia Dortmund will be without star striker Sébastien Haller, who is still recovering from a testicular tumor. Karim Adeyemi is likely to lead the line for the German side, with Jude Bellingham and Marco Reus providing support. Donyell Malen and Giovanni Reyna are also pushing for starting roles.
Potential Lineups:
- Real Madrid: Courtois; Alaba, Rüdiger, Vallejo, Mendy; Modric, Camavinga, Kroos; Rodrygo, Benzema, Vinicius Jr.
- Borussia Dortmund: Kobel; Süle, Hummels, Schlotterbeck; Wolf, Bellingham, Can, Guerreiro; Reus, Adeyemi, Brandt.
Manchester City vs. FC Copenhagen:
Manchester City, fresh off a comfortable victory over Wolves in the Premier League, will be looking to continue their winning streak. Erling Haaland, who has been in unstoppable form, will lead the attack alongside Phil Foden and Jack Grealish. Kevin De Bruyne, though likely to start, is managing a minor injury. Kyle Walker remains sidelined with a groin problem.
FC Copenhagen, underdogs in this matchup, will need to rely on their defensive solidity to frustrate the City attack. Viktor Claesson, the team's top scorer, will be their main threat going forward.
Potential Lineups:
- Manchester City: Ederson; Stones, Akanji, Dias, Cancelo; Rodri, Silva, De Bruyne; Foden, Haaland, Grealish.
- FC Copenhagen: Grabara; Diks, Vavro, Khocholava, Jelert; Lerager, Stamenic, Falk; Haraldsson, Claesson, Daramy.
Bayern Munich vs. Inter Milan:
Bayern Munich, undefeated in all competitions this season, will be aiming to maintain their perfect start. Sadio Mané, back from a knee injury, is expected to feature alongside Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sané in attack. Manuel Neuer, however, is still recovering from a shoulder injury, with Sven Ulreich likely to start in goal.
Inter Milan, who are looking to make a statement in this group, will be without Romelu Lukaku and Marcelo Brozovic due to injuries. Lautaro Martinez, alongside Edin Dzeko and Joaquín Correa, will lead the attack for the Italian champions.
Potential Lineups:
- Bayern Munich: Ulreich; Pavard, Upamecano, Hernandez, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka; Gnabry, Musiala, Sané; Mané.
- Inter Milan: Onana; Skriniar, Acerbi, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Gosens; Correa, Martinez.
Other key matches:
- Liverpool vs. Rangers: Darwin Núñez and Mohamed Salah will be key for Liverpool as they look to bounce back from their recent struggles. Rangers will be without key midfielder Glen Kamara.
- Chelsea vs. AC Milan: Raheem Sterling, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Kai Havertz will be looking to lead Chelsea to victory, while Milan will be without Mike Maignan due to injury.
With these crucial matchups shaping up, the fourth round of the Champions League promises to be a captivating spectacle. Stay tuned for exciting action and crucial results across the continent.