Striker Karim Benzema returned to the Real Madrid squad that visits Liverpool in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday, after missing Osasuna’s last La Liga match to rest amid doubts about his physical condition.
But the defending champions ruled out the starting midfield duo Toni Kroos and Aurelien Choameni due to illness.
German Kroos suffered from a stomach problem that prevented him from playing the last two matches against Elche and Osasuna, while France’s Tchoamene caught a cold and did not participate in the previous match during the 2-0 victory over Osasuna.
The list of absentees also includes left-back Ferland Mendy and substitute striker Mariano, and coach Carlo Ancelotti replaced him with rookie striker Alvaro Rodriguez, who drew attention by making a goal against Osasuna.
Ancelotti’s list includes four players from the youth team (Castilla), who are Rodriguez, midfielders Mario Martin and Arebas, and goalkeeper Luis Lopez.
The confrontation between the two clubs will be repeated after last year’s final, when Real won 1-0 with the goal of Vinicius Junior, to achieve its 14th title, reinforcing its record, and the Spanish champion defeated Jurgen Klopp’s team in the 2018 final.
