Preview: Real Madrid vs. Inter Milan - prediction, team news, lineups

Real Madrid and Inter Milan will lock horns at Bernabeu in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, with first position in Group D on offer for both sides.

Los Blancos are currently top of the section, two points clear of second-placed Inter, with both teams already advancing to the knockout stage of the competition.

Match preview

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Real Madrid made it eight straight wins in all competitions on Saturday, as they recorded a 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad in La Liga, with the result moving them eight points clear at the top of the table.

Carlo Ancelotti's side are actually unbeaten since a 2-1 reverse against Espanyol at the start of October, and they have been victorious in each of their last three Champions League matches, beating Shakhtar Donetsk twice before recording a 3-0 win away to Sheriff Tiraspol on November 24.

Los Blancos sit at the top of Group D with 12 points to show from their five matches and would claim first position in the section if they avoid defeat on Tuesday, but a loss would see them drop down to second and potentially hand them a more difficult tie in the last-16 stage of the competition.

Real Madrid have actually finished second in their group three times in the last five campaigns, but they were first in their section last term and ultimately reached the semi-finals before losing to eventual winners Chelsea.

At the start of the season, the capital giants were not considered as genuine contenders to win the crown this season, but the team's recent form has been incredible, and they cannot be written off due to their stunning history in the competition, having lifted the European Cup a record 13 times.

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Inter, meanwhile, will also bring an excellent winning run into Tuesday's contest, having been victorious in each of their last five games in all competitions, including a 3-0 success at Roma in Serie A on Saturday.

The Italian champions are now second in Italy's top flight, just one point behind bitter rivals AC Milan, while their 2-0 home success over Shakhtar on November 24 allowed them to book their spot in the last-16 stage of the Champions League with a game to spare.

Simone Inzaghi's side have actually reached the knockout round of this competition for the first time since the 2011-12 season, but they are the last Italian team to win the Champions League, lifting the trophy in 2010.

Inter have only won six of their last 21 matches in this competition, though, and have been beaten in their last five away fixtures in Spain, including a 3-2 loss when they visited Bernabeu in the group stage of last season's Champions League.

I Nerazzurri are not under any huge pressure to pick up a positive result on Tuesday, but a win against one of the most in-form sides in European football would certainly hand the team a huge confidence boost.

Team News

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Real Madrid will again be without the services of Dani Ceballos and Gareth Bale through injury, while Karim Benzema has also been ruled out with the hamstring issue that he picked up against Real Sociedad.

Los Blancos have a huge league game against the champions Atletico Madrid next weekend, so it would not be a surprise to see Ancelotti make changes to his starting side for this match.

Lucas Vazquez, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Luka Jovic and Marco Asensio could all come into the side, with Dani Carvajal and Casemiro potentially along those to be rested ahead of the Madrid derby.

As for Inter, Joaquin Correa, Aleksandar Kolarov, Andrea Ranocchia, Matteo Darmian, Stefan de Vrij and Christian Eriksen will all miss the contest.

Head coach Inzaghi is expected to resist the temptation to make wholesale changes from Saturday, but there are likely to be two or three alterations, with Arturo Vidal and Lautaro Martinez potentially coming into the side.

Alexis Sanchez will also be hoping to secure some minutes in the final third of the field, while Stefano Sensi could take the place of Marcelo Brozovic in the middle of the park.

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:

Courtois; Vazquez, Militao, Alaba, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga, Kroos; Vinicius, Jovic, Asensio

Inter Milan possible starting lineup:

Handanovic; D'Ambrosio, Skriniar, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Sensi, Vidal, Perisic; Dzeko, Martinez

We say: Real Madrid 1-1 Inter Milan

A point is enough for Real Madrid to secure first spot in the section, and we can see a low-scoring draw in this match. Ancelotti will make changes from the side that started against Real Sociedad, but Los Blancos should still be strong enough to hold the Italian champions to a score draw in the Spanish capital.