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Barca needed only a point last night and failed - Los Blancos don't want to repeat the same mistake
Reading Time: 4min | Wed. 08.11.23. | 15:39
Braga come to Bernabeu in need of all three points to keep their Champions League chances alive
Gunning for European Cup number 15 in 2023-24, Real Madrid have gone about their business with professionalism in the group stage so far, putting Napoli, Union Berlin, and Braga to the sword. This means a mere point in their second seeing with the Portuguese is all that is required for Los Blancos to advance to the knockout stages of the Champions League when Braga pay a visit to the Bernabeu on Wednesday in Group C.
Barcelona had the same situation last night where they needed at least a draw to solidify their place in the knock-out stages but were shocked by Ukrainian Shakhtar Donetsk.
Los Blancos boast a perfect record of three wins from three in continental action so far, seeing them sit two places and six points better off than their Iberian visitors. However, Real went from the highs of a 2-1 El Clasico win over Barcelona to the lows of a frustrating goalless stalemate with Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, as Carlo Ancelotti's side fired 22 shots and had 63% of the ball to no avail, but an eight-game unbeaten run is nothing to be scoffed at.
Alarm bells were raised when Jude Bellingham jarred his shoulder in the first half of Sunday's draw with Rayo Vallecano, and while Ancelotti does not believe that his top scorer is nursing a serious issue, it would not be a complete surprise to see him rested in midweek. Eder Militao (ACL), Thibaut Courtois (ACL), Dani Ceballos (muscle) and Aurelien Tchouameni (foot) will not make the cut on Wednesday, but Ancelotti has Ferland Mendy back at his disposal after the left-back was left out of the weekend's draw due to overload. Fran Garcia's spot at left-back could therefore come under threat, and Ancelotti may also tinker with his system if Bellingham is spared, potentially reverting to a 4-3-3 shape with Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior and Joselu linking arms up front.
Los Blancos have avoided defeat in each of their last eight Champions League home games - winning seven of them - and have not failed to score in a continental match at the Bernabeu since 2018, netting in 24 contests on the trot since a shock 3-0 loss to CSKA Moscow.
On the other end, each of Braga's three Champions League contests so far this season have also been settled by just one goal, as Artur Jorge's men began with a narrow 2-1 loss to Napoli before storming back from two goals down to sink Union Berlin in a five-goal extravaganza. That enthralling 3-2 Berlin beating - which was sealed with an injury-time Andre Castro strike - has the third-placed visitors still very much in contention to upset the apple cart, although their opening loss to Napoli, who are three points better off, means that Braga cannot break into the top two even if they can defy the odds and down Real Madrid.
❗️Re. Jude Bellingham's injury: Real Madrid fans can breathe. It's nothing serious, if he doesn't play tonight it will be as a precaution and because the team is fully on track to qualify. If the game were of vital importance, Bellingham would be in the XI with complete security.… pic.twitter.com/swx885yeDr
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) November 8, 2023
The Portuguese powerhouses will experience a club first on Wednesday, as they prepare for an inaugural Champions League away game versus a Spanish side, but their compatriots have often fared poorly at the Bernabeu; Real Madrid are yet to a lose a European home game against a Primeira Liga outfit.
In contrast to their tonight's host - not one of the Archbishops is in the treatment room at present.
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Group stage - matchday 4
Tuesday
Dortmund - Newcastle 2-0 (1-0)
/Fullkrug 26, Brandt 79/
Shakhtar - Barcelona 1-0 (1-0)
/Sikan 40/
Atl. Madrid - Celtic 6-0 (2-0)
/Griezmann 6, 60, Morata 45+2, 76, Lino 66, Saul 85/
Lazio - Feyenoord 1-0 (1-0)
/Immobile 45+1/
Milan - PSG 2-1 (1-1)
/Leao 12, Giroud 51 - Skriniar 9/
Crvena Zvezda - RB Leipzig 1-2 (0-1)
/Kanga 81 - Simons 8, Openda 77/
Man City - Young Boys 3-0 (2-0)
/Haaland 22 pen, 52, Foden 45/
Porto - Antwerp 2-0 (1-0)
/Evanilson 31 pen, Pepe 90+1/
Wednesday
20:45: (1.42) Napoli (4.50) Union Berlin (7.75)
20:45: (2.00) Sociedad (3.50) Benfica (4.10)
23:00: (1.25) Bayern (7.00) Galatasaray (12.0)
23:00: (4.50) Copenhagen (3.60) Man.Utd. (1.90)
23:00: (1.35) Arsenal (5.60) Sevilla (9.50)
23:00: (1.80) PSV (3.60) Lens (4.60)
23:00: (1.28) Real Madrid (6.75) Braga (10.5)
23:00: (6.00) Salzburg (4.00) Inter (1.65)
***odds are subject to change***
