Tomorrow night, Real Madrid will play host to Napoli at the Santiago Bernabeu in an attempt to secure first place in Group C of the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League.

With a five-point lead over second-place Napoli and four wins out of four, Los Blancos have already qualified for the tournament’s knockout rounds.

No matter what happens in Carlo Ancelotti and team’s last game next month against Union Berlin, a win or draw tomorrow will guarantee that they advance as group winners.

With the addition of Luka Modric, Real Madrid’s injured list now includes eight players: Vinicius Jr., Eduardo Camavinga, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Arda Guler, Aurelien Tchouameni, Thibaut Courtois, and Eder Militao.

Because of this, Ancelotti has had to go to the academy’s depth chart to find players like Nico Paz, Mario Martin, Gonzalo Garcia, and the son of club owner Zinedine Zidane, Theo Zidane.

This is one possible starting lineup for Real Madrid’s match against Napoli under Walter Mazzarri, following several lineup alterations from their previous match against Cadiz.

Starters

Real Madrid will start Andriy Lunin in goal once again because Kepa Arrizabalaga is still not ready. Lunin is anxious to continue his impressive form.

Ancelotti is likely to rotate the backline, so Lucas Vazquez will get a chance to start in the upcoming games, although Dani Carvajal should start at right back. In addition to Fran Garcia, Ferland Mendy is likely to keep his starting left back position.

After coming off the bench against Cadiz, David Alaba should start again. Assuming Victor Osimhen is healthy enough to play, he’ll team up with Antonio Rudiger to contain the dangerous Osimhen.

Toni Kroos will continue to start at the base of Ancelotti’s four-man diamond formation due to the paucity of resources in the midfield. Star player Jude Bellingham, who had plagued Napoli in the previous match, will start at the tip.

As a replacement for the injured Modric, Dani Ceballos will start on the inside of the midfield for the first time this season. When Real Madrid plays the Partenopei, Federico Valverde will start in the midfield as a fourth attacker.

At the top of the lineup, Rodrygo Goes seems untouchable, especially with his recent surge in form. Due to Vinicius Jr.’s absence, the Brazilian will most likely be paired with Joselu again.

Lunin, Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Kroos, Valverde, Ceballos, Bellingham, Joselu, Rodrygo—that is the expected starting eleven for Real Madrid.

Substitutes

As Ancelotti seeks to rest Rodrygo or Bellingham, Brahim Diaz, who was unwell and missed the Cadiz game, is likely to earn some bench time.

A number of Real Madrid academy products, including Gonzalo Garcia, Nico Paz, and Mario Martin, might see action in midfield for the club in the Champions League match against Napoli. Garcia made his first-team debut last weekend.