Real Madrid Vs. Tottenham Hotspur, 2011 UEFA Champions League: Madrid Lineups

Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel di Maria have overcome health concerns to start for Real Madrid as they entertain Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, Gonzalo Higuian is not yet fit to make the starting lineup, and in the absence of French striker Karim Benzema, Jose Mourinho is having to make do with ex-Manchester City forward Emmanuel Adebayor to lead the line.

Madrid will line up in their typical 4-2-3-1 formation, with Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso as the double pivot while Mesut Ozil flutters around in the gap between midfield and attack. Ronaldo and di Maria should be expected to cut inside to support Adebayor whenever Madrid have the ball, which will be a lot, and they’re both significantly more dangerous threats than the striker. Spurs’ fullbacks will have to be very careful to both not get out of position and not leave either wide player unmarked.

Defensively, we’ve seen this unit before. Iker Casillas has a claim to be the best goalkeeper in the world, a rejuvenated Ricardo Carvalho, paired with Pepe is still a top defender, while Marcelo and Sergio Ramos are both very good fullbacks. Tottenham are going to have to be very clever to break the defence down, and their best chance probably involves getting Gareth Bale behind Ramos on the counter-attack.

Substitutes: Antonio Adan, Kaka, Lassana Diarra, Esteban Granero, Alvaro Arbeloa, Ezequiel Garay, Gonzalo Higuain.