Real Madrid vs Copenhagen - Team News, Match Preview & Likely Line-Ups

by Joseph Dempsey

Date: Wednesday, October 2 Venue: Santiago Bernabeu Kick-Off: 19:45 Can Real Madrid seize control of Group B of the Champions League with victory over FC Copenhagen?

Team News

Real Madrid will be without record-signing Gareth Bale for the visit of FC Copenhagen to the Santiago Bernabeu for Wednesday night's Champions League encounter. The Wales international has aggravated an injury to his thigh and will miss out. Xabi Alonso will join Bale on the sidelines, with the Spain international still recovering from a broken nose. Defender Raphael Varane is back in contention however having returned from surgery on his knee. Copenhagen have concerns over the fitness of Olof Mellberg after the veteran defender was forced out of last weekend's game against Bronby with concussion. However, goalkeeper Johan Willand (arm) and Nicolai Jorgensen (groin) both returned to action in that game and should be fit. (Eurosport)

Key Stats

This game marks the first ever competitive meeting between Real Madrid and Copenhagen. No Danish side has ever beaten Spanish opposition in the Champions League. Copenhagen have won only one of their last seven Champions League games. Real Madrid are unbeaten in their last 12 home games in the Champions League (10 wins, two draws).

Likely Line-Ups

Real Madrid Casillas, Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Coentrao, Illaramendi, Modric, Isco, Di Maria, Ronaldo, Benzema Copenhagen Wiland, Jacobsen, Mellberg, Bengtsson, Sigurdsson, Bolanos, Claudemir, Delaney, Braaten, Adi, Jorgensen

Match Preview

carlo ancelotti Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti will be looking for an instant reaction from his Real Madrid side tonight following Saturday's derby defeat to Atletico Madrid in La Liga. That result saw Atletico leapfrog Real into second place in the table and a much-needed win here will help Los Blancos banish the memories of what was only their first defeat to their city rivals in 14 years. Victory over Copenhagen, a side they have never faced before, would see Real assume control of Group B and move on to six points, with Juventus set to face off against Galatasaray in the other fixture. No Danish side has ever beaten Spanish opposition in the history of the Champions League, but Odense did beat Madrid in the 1994 edition of the UEFA Cup. They're now in Denmark's lowest division. The test facing Copenhagen then is huge, and with Real determined to make amends for the defeat against Atletico, it is difficult to imagine anything less than a win for Ancelotti's men. Prediction: 3-0
Contributor
Contributor

Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.