City
Epaper

Differing needs for Spanish sides in Tuesday Champions League action

By IANS | Updated: December 12, 2023 09:20 IST

Madrid, Dec 12 Real Madrid, Real Sociedad and Sevilla are in Champions League action on Tuesday, with each ...

Open in App

Madrid, Dec 12 Real Madrid, Real Sociedad and Sevilla are in Champions League action on Tuesday, with each team having different needs from each match.

Real Madrid will travel to play Union Berlin, and with Carlo Ancelotti's side already assured of finishing top of Group C, the coach will rest regular starters, such as Jude Bellingham and Toni Kroos and give minutes to players such as Dani Ceballos and Fran Garcia, with Kepa likely to return in goal after Andriy Lunin was preferred for Saturday's LaLiga match away to Betis.

Real Sociedad needs to avoid defeat away to Inter Milan in their last group match if they want to finish top of Group D and ensure they play the return leg of the first knockout stage at home, reports Xinhua.

The side from San Sebastian is impressive in its 3-0 win away to Villarreal on Saturday, but lost influential midfielder, Brais Mendez after he was kicked by Villarreal midfielder, Etienne Capoue during the game and broke a bone in his arm.

Mendez will have an operation on his arm, while Ander Barrenetxea also misses out with an ankle injury, he suffered a week ago away to Osasuna.

Sevilla travels to Lens with no change of reaching the knockout stage of the competition after losing 3-2 at home to PSV Eindhoven two weeks ago. That result means Sevilla have to win in France to ensure a place in the Europa League in the New Year.

A 1-0 defeat in Mallorca on the weekend means Sevilla have still to win in either LaLiga or in Europe since Diego Alonso replaced Jose Luis Mendilibar as coach two months ago, and rumors in the press are that the only reason he remains in his job is that nobody else wants it.

Alonso is without 14 first team players for Tuesday's game with Fernando and Lucas Ocampos suspended after red cards a fortnight ago, while others such as Joan Jordan, Suso, Erik Lamela and Dodi Lukebakio are injured, with Lukebakio twisting a knee ligament against Mallorca.

Sevilla will take an 18-man squad to France for the game and the former Uruguay boss needs to see commitment from his players to have any chance of saving his job.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalRussia delivers first batch of 1,212 Ukrainian soldiers' bodies to exchange point

National“We Want Our Daughter Back”: Family Urges Swift CBI Inquiry in Indore Missing Couple Case

InternationalGulf Air flight lands safely in Kuwait after bomb threat, suspect detained

InternationalTaiwan detects 7 Chinese aircraft, 8 naval vessels near territorial waters

OpinionsWho’s Feeding Lame Horses Chickpeas?

Football Realted Stories

FootballMbappe nets 50th goal for France as Les Bleus clinch third place in UEFA Nations League against Germany

FootballMumbai City sign Lalnuntluanga Bawitlung ahead of 2025-2026 campaign

FootballUEFA Nations League: Spain look to defend their title as they face Portugal in final

FootballTottenham Hotspur sack head coach Ange Postecoglou weeks after Europa League triumph

FootballBlue Tigers take lessons from Thailand result, set sights on Hong Kong