Varane takes on the ghosts of his Champions League mistakes

Raphael Varane will be out to atone for his most recent Champions League display when his Real Madrid side host Shakhtar Donetsk at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on Wednesday night in Matchday 1 of the new campaign. Varane committed two costly errors that ultimately resulted in Los Blancos' exit at the competition's last 16 stage last term at the hands of Manchester City.

Given that his usual defensive partner Sergio Ramos will be absent due to injury, as was the case because of suspension against Manchester City, Varane once again faces a tough test. As a result of the absences of Ramos, Dani Carvajal and Alvaro Odriozola, Zinedine Zidane has only been able to call up five defenders for the game, with Nacho, Eder Militao, Varane, Ferland Mendy and Marcelo making up the defensive ranks. The one question is over which of Mendy or Marcelo occupies the left-back slot.

All eyes will be on Varane, though. That August night in Manchester was perhaps the worst of his career and it came without Ramos by his side. The centre-back made two big mistakes at the Etihad that led to the goals of Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus. They were the kind of mistakes a player of his level doesn't usually make. No one at the club doubts the quality of the Frenchman and he'll be keen to prove he can lead the Real Madrid defensive line, aiming for a clean sheet that would dismiss any lingering doubts about his level of play.

With a glut of fixtures to come, it's vital Los Merengues get off to a good start in the group stage of Europe's premier competition, as they seek to win a record 14th crown. In the other game in Group B this Wednesday night, Antonio Conte's Inter Milan host Borussia Monchengladbach.