MX23RW : Friday, February 8 11:22:58

How Real Madrid could line up against Barcelona

Sports Mole looks at how Real Madrid could line up in Wednesday's Copa del Rey semi-final first leg against Barcelona.

Real Madrid made it five straight wins in all competitions when they recorded a 3-0 victory over Alaves at the Bernabeu on Sunday night.

It has been a tough season for Los Blancos, but they have now won their last four in La Liga to move to within two points of second-placed Atletico Madrid.

Their attention now switches to the Copa del Rey, though, as they prepare to travel to Barcelona for the first leg of their semi-final.

Madrid have not won the competition since 2014 and they are facing the team that has landed the trophy in each of the last four seasons.

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at how Santiago Solari's in-form team could line up at Camp Nou on Wednesday night.


POSS RM XI vs. BAR

Out: Jesus Vallejo (hamstring), Luca Zidane (hamstring)

Solari has had to deal with a fairly lengthy injury list this season, but a number of players have returned to fitness in recent weeks. As a result, the Madrid boss will have a tough task picking his team for El Clasico.

Dani Carvajal and Raphael Varane both missed the clash with Alaves through suspension but are expected to return to the XI here. Meanwhile, Marcelo could also take the place of Sergio Reguilon at left-back.

Further forward, Toni Kroos will come back into the midfield alongside Luka Modric, while Solari will choose between Casemiro and Marcos Llorente for the holding midfield role.

Lucas Vazquez's absence from the clash with Alaves suggests that the Spaniard will start and he will definitely be joined by Karim Benzema, who has 18 goals for the season. Benzema has netted four times in four Copa del Rey matches this term, meanwhile, and will be a serious threat to Barcelona.

Gareth Bale and Marco Asensio will both be eyeing the other spot in attack having returned from injury, but it seems likely that Vinicius Junior's excellent form will see the 18-year-old handed yet another starting role down the left.

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Barcelona duo Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi celebrate a goal against Leganes in La Liga on January 20, 2019.
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Combined XI: Barcelona vs. Real Madrid
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona22155260233750
2Atletico MadridAtletico22128232141844
3Real Madrid22133637261142
4Sevilla22106636231336
5Getafe228862518732
6AlavesAlaves229582227-532
7Real Betis229582626032
8Valencia2261242420430
9Real Sociedad228682725230
10EibarEibar227872930-129
11Levante227693240-827
12Athletic Bilbao2251162328-526
13Leganes226882227-526
14Real Valladolid226791928-925
15Espanyol2274112536-1125
16Celta Vigo2266103436-224
17GironaGirona225982331-824
18Rayo Vallecano2265112638-1223
19Villarreal2231092331-819
20Huesca2236132139-1815

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