Real Madrid Vs AC Milan lineups, expected starting 11, confirmed team news and injuries: Valverde and Rodrygo passed fit

Real Madrid Vs AC Milan lineups, expected starting 11, confirmed team news and injuries: Valverde and Rodrygo passed fit

Real Madrid face a UEFA Champions League clash with an old rival on November 5 as they host AC Milan in the Spanish capital.

The defending champions are the most successful club in European Cup/Champions League history with 16 titles to their names ahead of second place AC Milan who have seven.

Two of those titles for the Italian giants came under current Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, who lifted the famous trophy in 2003 and 2007. The 65-year-old has since won three more across two spells with Los Blancos in 2014, 2022 and 2024.

Ancelotti will be a key focus ahead of the game as he looks to steady Real Madrid after a mixed spell of form.

Lille sealed a shock win in Madrid on October 2, before Ancelotti’s charges rallied in their next European outing to win 5-2 home to Borussia Dortmund after falling 2-0 behind..

That was swiftly followed by a 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in El Clasico on October 26 and their La Liga trip to Valencia last weekend was cancelled due to the devastation caused by Storm Dana in the region.

Paulo Fonseca has endured an inconsistent start, since taking charge of Milan prior to this season with one win from three Champions League games and two from their past four in Serie A.

Real Madrid vs. AC Milan lineups, confirmed starting 11, team news
La Liga’s decision to cancel Real Madrid’s game at Valencia was called as the correct move by Ancelotti as Spain reels from flooding on the country’s east coast.

Ancelotti pre-game message firmly focused on football being secondary in the country right now as part of a reserved press conference in Valdebebas.

In terms of team news Federico Valverde and Rodrgyo have both shaken off minor injuries and will feature in the matchday squad.

Rodrygo missed out against Barcelona and the Brazil international is a key part of Ancelotti’s preferred starting XI, with Aurelien Tchouameni potentially making way for his return.

First-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois remains out, with Andriy Lunin stepping in. Long-term absentees David Alaba and Dani Carvajal are sidelined until 2025.

Real Madrid (4-3-3, right to left): Lunin (GK) — Vazquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy — Valverde, Bellingham, Camavinga — Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Jr.

Injured: Courtois, Alaba, Carvajal
Suspended: None

AC Milan are still missing some key names from their ranks with Matteo Gabbia, Ismael Bennacer and Alessandro Florenzi all out through injury.

Fonseca rested some key names for the 1-0 weekend win at Monza with Fikayo Tomori and Emerson Royal both set to start in Madrid. USMNT star Christian Pulisic will feature in the attack, with Tammy Abraham also passed fit following a minor knock.

The big call facing Fonseca is on Portugal international Rafael Leao who was dropped to the bench against Monza. Fonseca rejected suggestions of a rift with the player – who has been linked with a transfer to Barcelona – and he may keep him in reserve in this game.

AC Milan (4-2-3-1, right to left): Maignan (GK) — Emerson, Tomori, Thiaw, Hernandez — Reijnders, Fofana — Chukwueze, Pulisic, Okafor — Morata.

Injured: Gabbia, Bennacer, Florenzi
Suspended: None