Real Madrid lineup vs. Man City: Predicted XI for Champions League clash as Carlo Ancelotti receives triple boost

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has received a triple defensive boost for Wednesday's Champions League playoff second leg with Manchester City at the Bernabeu.

The holders prevailed 3-2 at the Etihad despite missing no fewer than five defenders, as Lucas Vazquez, David Alaba, Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger and Dani Carvajal all sat out the trip.

However, Alaba, Rudiger and Vazquez have all trained this week and are in the squad for Wednesday's game, where Ancelotti has no fresh concerns from the weekend's 1-1 La Liga draw with Osasuna barring a minor concern over Federico Valverde, who is expected to be fine.

Alaba might be held back given his lack of football and recent fitness woes, but a fit-again Rudiger could return to the backline alongside the up-and-coming Raul Asencio.

Such a move would allow Ancelotti to field Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield alongside Eduardo Camavinga; fellow lynchpin Valverde should fill in at right-back again - Ancelotti has already ruled out Vazquez from the start - while Ferland Mendy is expected to take Fran Garcia's slot on the opposite side.

Further forward, first-leg match-winner Jude Bellingham is about to serve a ban for his controversial red card against Osasuna, but the Englishman's suspension - which could supposedly be up to 12 games long - will only apply to domestic affairs.

As a result, Bellingham ought to reprise his attacking role with Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappe as he goes in search of a UCL record; his next goal against Man City would be his fourth, the most one English player has scored against an English team in the Champions League.

Real Madrid possible starting lineup: Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Camavinga, Tchouameni; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius; Mbappe

> Click here to see how Man City could line up for the second leg