Both Real Madrid and Inter Milan will be desperate to get their 2020-21 Champions League campaigns off and running when they lock horns in the Spanish capital on Tuesday night.
Los Blancos are currently bottom of Group B with just one point to show from their two matches thus far, while Inter are third in the section with two points from their opening two fixtures.
Both teams will still fancy their chances of qualifying for the round of 16, but a defeat for either on Tuesday would leave them in a difficult position, particularly as both Shakhtar Donetsk and Borussia Monchengladbach have shown plenty of quality in the group thus far.
Madrid and Inter have not actually locked horns since the group stage of the 1998-99 competition; Los Blancos won the home fixture 2-0 before Inter ran out 3-1 winners at San Siro two months later.
Some of Europe's biggest talents will be on display at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium and with that in mind, Sports Mole picks a combined XI from both squads, using only players available for the game.
It was far from straightforward to pick the goalkeeper in this XI as Thibaut Courtois's form for Madrid over the last 12 months or so has been very strong, but Samir Handanovic just about gets the nod here. The 36-year-old is incredibly reliable between the sticks and has already kept one clean sheet in the Champions League this term.
A three-man defence was always going to include the inspirational Sergio Ramos, who is a serial winner and key contributor for the Spanish champions at both ends of the field, while Madrid teammate Raphael Varane is also in the selection despite the fact that questions have been asked of the Frenchman over the last few months. The final spot at the back goes to an Inter player, with Danilo D'Ambrosio being included. The 32-year-old has come up with two goals in six appearances this season and will be key to the away side's plans in terms of stopping the hosts on Tuesday night.
Ferland Mendy is selected as the left-sided wing-back, with the Frenchman impressing in the early stages of the 2020-21 campaign, while Achraf Hakimi is named on the opposite side. The 21-year-old, who will line up against his former club in the Spanish capital, has scored once and provided two assists in seven appearances for Inter this term, having arrived from the Bernabeu during the summer transfer window.
Toni Kroos just about gets the nod over Luka Modric as part of a midfield two, with the Germany international still a key contributor for Zinedine Zidane's side. Meanwhile, there is also a spot for Nicolo Barella, who has provided three assists in six appearances for Inter this term. Both sides are well-stocked when it comes to midfield options, but a Kroos-Barella partnership seems the perfect mix in this XI.
Just ahead of the midfield two sits a certain Eden Hazard, who was on the scoresheet against Huesca on his return to the starting side. There is no getting away from the fact that the 29-year-old has struggled since arriving from Chelsea, but he showed plenty of quality during his 60 minutes on the field on Saturday and certainly has what it takes to be a leading star for the La Liga giants this season.
Romelu Lukaku would have made this XI had he definitely been available, but the Belgian is unlikely to shake off his injury in time for the contest, meaning that Lautaro Martinez is the Inter representative in attack. The 23-year-old was strongly linked with a move to Barcelona over the summer but ultimately remained at San Siro and has scored three times in eight appearances in all competitions this term.
The final spot in the side, meanwhile, goes to Karim Benzema. The 32-year-old has scored four times and registered three assists in nine appearances for Madrid this season, and there is simply no downplaying the importance of the Frenchman to Madrid. Benzema is currently on 66 Champions League goals - only Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Raul and Robert Lewandowski have scored more in the competition - and he will be determined to lead his team to a positive result at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium.
Matt Law
