Real Madrid possible starting XI vs Braga in Champions League

With Bellingham a huge doubt, here’s how Real Madrid could line up in the Champions League group game against Braga.

Will Bellingham play? is perhaps the most common question in the capital of Spain on Wednesday, as most Madrid fans will be mulling over the same dilemma that Carlo Ancelotti has. The latest news is that the player, while still in pain, is not fully ruled out of Real Madrid’s match day four game against Braga in the UEFA Champions League (Wednesday, November 8, 2023, kick-off at 3 p.m. ET / 12 noon PT.)

On Tuesday Bellingham worked alongside the rest of the players, all while wearing a bandage on his shoulder/arm and showing signs of pain that do not go away. It won’t be until Wednesday until we know, a little while before the game, when Bellingham will meet with the club doctors to discuss the pain and make a decision on the injury he suffered in Los Blancos’ 0-0 draw against Rayo. Ahead of the game, Ancelotti said Bellingham is “recovering well, he didn’t do the whole session today to avoid taking another knock, but he felt good. I’ll assess things with him tomorrow.”

Who will play for Real Madrid if Bellingham is injured?

For now he’s in the squad, but it doesn’t look like he’ll be in the starting XI. If the Englishman does feel fit to play, then the starting side will be as we have come to expect. But how will things look if Bellingham doesn’t make the team?

Ancelotti surely has the idea of hopping into the DeLorean and going all the way back to the 4-3-3, a system that would allow Vinicius Jr, a player who has been struggling as of late, to take up his old role on the left of a front three. Rodrygo would be allowed back on the wide right position (but with a lot of freedom to drift and leave the right side to Valverde), and up top, Joselu. If Ancelotti wants to keep the same scheme, Brahim can play in the Bellingham role in a 4-3-1-2.

Who will play for Real Madrid against Braga?

What is a certainty is that the middle of the pitch will remain largely the same: Kroos will be back after being rested in LaLiga at the weekend. The player who is set to be left out will likely be Luka Modric, as Camavinga, who signed a new deal with the club until 2029, will continue his good work as the pivot in place of the injured Tchouaméni, while Valverde will be dropped into the final midfield spot, with a licence to roam up the right.

As for the back line, it will most likely be Nacho who is the main change, with Alaba rested. Rüdiger, suspended for the weekend’s LaLiga game against Valencia, will play alongside the Spaniard. On the right, Lucas should take up the role with Fran García on the left. Kepa, of course, will be in goal.