Real Madrid announced on Monday evening the squad traveling to Lisbon for the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 playoff against Benfica.
The Royal Club secured a 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad on Saturday in La Liga and now awaits a revenge match against Benfica on Tuesday at the Estádio da Luz.
Los Blancos will enter the highly anticipated match missing four players: Raúl Asensio and Rodrygo Goes due to suspension, and Jude Bellingham and Éder Militão due to injury.
Asensio and Rodrygo received red cards during the Benfica match at the end of the league season, while Bellingham will be sidelined until April, and Militão is still recovering from his cruciate ligament injury.
Álvaro Arbeloa was forced to turn to Real Madrid’s youth academy graduates to fill the gap, calling up Juan Martínez, Cestro, and Tiago in a move aimed at bolstering his tactical options.
Real Madrid’s full squad for the Benfica match:
Goalkeepers: Courtois – Lunin – Fran González
Defenders: Carvajal – Alaba – Arnold – Carreras – Fran García – Rüdiger – Mendy – Hoesen – Juan Martínez
Midfielders: Camavinga – Valverde – Tchouaméni – Arda Güler – Ceballos – Cestro – Tiago
Forwards: Vinícius Júnior – Kylian Mbappé – Gonzalo García – Brahim Díaz – Mastantunu
