Napoli host defending Champions Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie at the Stadio San Paolo tonight.
According to the official squad list released by Real Madrid, only Fabio Coentrao and Raphael Varane have been left out of the squad as they are still recovering from injury. Barring the defensive duo, Zinedine Zidane will have a fully fit squad available to choose his starting XI from.
Los Blancos are unlikely to try a different formation for this tie and will likely field their strongest eleven, which means that players such as Ronaldo, Kroos, Marcelo and Carvajal, who were rested for their 1-4 victory against Eibar, will likely be back into the squad.
On being asked what he’d do differently, Zidane said: ” Nothing changes and what we mustn’t change is the mentality that we have to show. Even if we play with two or three up top, it doesn’t change things. What we must make sure we show, and all the more so in a game like this one, is the right attitude.”
Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale are set to take to the pitch together in the Champions League for the first time since November which should come as a huge boost. However, Zidane insisted that he was just happy that his entire squad was fit and available.
” Everyone is entitled to their opinion on this[whether they should start],” he said. ” I’m happy to have the whole squad here with me, apart from two players who have stayed back home. We can all give our opinion on whether it’s better to play the BBC or not. You’ll see tomorrow how we set up.”
Moving to defence, due to the absence of Varane, Pepe will most likely take his place in the center of defence alongside Sergio Ramos. Nacho Fernandez and Danilo who started at left and right-back respectively against Eibar, will probably have to make way Marcelo and Carvajal.
In midfield, Toni Kroos, who got on the scoresheet in the first leg, will likely come back in for James Rodriguez, despite a rare and impressive performance at the Ipurua.
The Frenchman will know all too well about the atmosphere of the San Paolo, having played there while still a player with Juventus. However, Real are far too experienced a side to let the advantage slide and with one foot already in the quarter-finals, it would take some miraculous attacking by Napoli for Real to not progress.
