After last night's disappointing evening at the Bernabeu, let's take a look at the changes the team should make for the do or die second leg in Germany
Last night, Real Madrid were defeated 2-1 at home to Bayern Munich in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Bernabeu.
Truth be told, Los Blancos can feel quite fortunate that the score wasn't more, with the visitors squandering several opportunities, and having a stonewall penalty denied after Alvaro Carreras clearly fouled Michael Olise inside the penalty area.
That said, the game was not without chances for Alvaro Arbeloa's side, with Vinicius the main culprit. The tie is certainly not dead. As the cliche goes, if anyone can, Real Madrid can.
However, for the comeback to happen, the team must start the game much quicker than they did last night. Therefore, the starting XI is pivotal. So, what changes must Arbeloa make?
At the back, it is clear that Eder Militao must come in. Although in isolation Dean Huijsen did not do much wrong last night, him and Antonio Rudiger as a pair just feels a bit shaky. Plus, Militao as of right now is just simply a better player - no shame in that.
Elsewhere in the defence, it is crucial that Ferland Mendy starts the second leg. It sounded like the Frenchman was touch and go for this game, so you'd like to think he will be available at the Allianz Arena.
It can't be denied that Carreras was being torched by Olise. Throughout the night, he could not handle the Bayern winger. Although Mendy will not give you anything going forward, he is a much better defender and will help try and combat Olise and co.
The return of Mendy is particularly important as Eduardo Camavinga will not be able to fill in at left-back. Indeed, he is going to have to start in midfield in place of the suspended Aurelien Tchouameni. Thiago Pitarch is clearly nowhere near cut out for this level just yet. And that's fine.
We saw the game change when Jude Bellingham came on last night. Bayern struggled to deal with his physicality - be it off the ball or with his dynamic carrying. He will be crucial in the second leg.
Arbeloa should go with the diamond formation next week. Arda Guler and Bellingham can interchange between the left sided number eight and the number ten. Given his superior dynamism, it should probably be the Englishman in the deeper role, but with license to swap and get into the box when necessary.
How Real Madrid should line up in Germany; Lunin; Alexander-Arnold, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga, Bellingham; Guler, Mbappe, Vinicius.
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