Real Madrid return to action for the first time since losing the first El Clasico of the season when they take on AC Milan in the Champions League at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.
Carlo Ancelotti will demand a response from his side following the 4-0 hammering by Barcelona at the Bernabeu and Los Blancos should be fresh for this contest, after their fixture against Valencia at the weekend was postponed.
AC Milan currently sit outside the top 24 places in the Champions League table, which would see them miss out on the chance to reach the next phase of the competition.
Madrid are set to be without Thibaut Courtois for the third game in a row, as the goalkeeper recover from an adductor problem, while Rodrygo is also expected to remain sidelined due to a hamstring issue.
David Alaba is not set to return until January and Daniel Carvajal is out for the campaign.
Milan are missing Matteo Gabbia, Ismael Bennacer and Alessandro Florenzi, who is not set to return until the end of April after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in July.
Luka Jovic has missed the last six matches because of a stress reaction of the bone and he is doubtful for this contest.
The stats
Madrid have registered two victories and a defeat in their opening three Champions League matches, while Milan lost to Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen before beating Club Brugge.
Los Blancos have not lost at home in Europe’s top competition in their last 15 matches, the last defeat coming in extra-time against Chelsea in April 2022.
Brazil international Vinicius Junior has scored three goals in this season’s Champions League and has netted five times from his last four appearances in all competitions.
Milan’s 1-0 victory at Monza on Saturday made it three victories from their last four matches, the sole blemish during this period a 2-0 defeat at home to Napoli.
Tuesday’s clash will be the first competitive meeting between the two sides since November 2010, the pair drawing 2-2 at the San Siro.
Prediction
Madrid will be itching to get back to winning ways after the Barcelona thumping and that spells bad news for visitors Milan, who have not looked convincing of late despite picking up victories.
Paulo Fonseca’s side narrowly beat relegation-threatened Monza 1-0 last time out and they will need a big improvement if they want to overcome a Los Blancos side that will have been worked hard on the training ground.
There is not a great deal of value in the match result market and the better play here look to be in the anytime goalscorer market, with Madrid ace Vinicius the selection.
With five goals in his last four appearances, Vinicius has upped his level since the arrival of Kylian Mbappe and he can continue to be a leading light for his side.
