Carlo Ancelotti is without Real Madrid’s first-choice defensive unit for the Champions League clash against Manchester City. The holders are the visitors to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night as they look to secure a positive result to take back to the Santiago Bernabeu for next week’s knockout phase play-off second leg. However, their task has been made a lot more difficult with the ongoing defensive crisis. Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao have already sustained season-ending knee injuries, whilst Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba have not travelled to Manchester. Lucas Vazquez has become the latest casualty as a hamstring injury has ruled him out of the Man City clash too. “Following tests carried out on Lucas Vazquez today by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a muscle injury in his left hamstring, meaning he will not be in the squad to travel to Manchester,” a Real Madrid medical report read. “His recovery will be assessed.” As a result, Ancelotti will have to get creative with regards to his defensive set-up and this could mean Federico Valverde is asked to operate at right-back with Aurelien Tchouameni continuing his centre-back partnership with youngster Raul Asencio. Luka Modric and Eduardo Camavinga are options to start in central midfield as Ancelotti can select a front four of Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe. Predicted Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Valverde, Tchouameni, Asencio, Mendy; Modric, Camavinga; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr.; Mbappe Squad from: Courtois, Lunin, Sergio Mestre, Vallejo, Fran García, Mendy, Jacobo, Asencio, Lorenzo, Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Modric, Tchouameni, Arda Guler, Ceballos, Chema, Vini Jr., Mbappe, Rodrygo, Endrick, Brahim and Gonzalo. Time and date: 8pm GMT on Tuesday 11, February 2025 Venue: Etihad Stadium TV channel and live stream: Amazon Prime Video