Match Details
Date: Wednesday, November 25
Time: 7:45 p.m. GMT/2:45 p.m. EST/9:45 p.m. local
Venue: Arena Lviv, Lviv, Ukraine
TV Info: BT Sport (UK), Fox Sports (U.S.)
So Real Madrid still have a supervisor. Until further notice, in any case.On Monday, taking after the destruction because of Barcelona at the Bernabeu, club president Florentino Perez utilized a question and answer session to freely back Rafa Benitez, likewise hitting out at the media and fans alike for what he portrayed as endeavors to "destabilize" the club.
"I comprehend that the fans are steamed about Saturday yet we think this is the ideal opportunity to continue working with meticulousness, tranquility and the solidarity of everybody," he said. "Rafa Benitez has all our backing and all our certainty."
Obviously, it was just back in March when Perez utilized an indistinguishable event to say precisely the same in regards to Carlo Ancelotti. There's a shared factor here, you feel.
From Perez, the man who stays integral to Real Madrid's issues, Monday was basically an activity in self-protection.
Taking after serenades for his acquiescence at the Bernabeu amid Saturday's Clasico, this was an endeavor to detract heat from himself, sticking Madrid's present difficulty on both Ancelotti and an outside battle, and subsequently legitimizing his choices since. Doing generally would have been to concede missteps, debilitating his political position. What's more, he was never going.
In any case, however, his club is one overwhelmed in institutional turmoil, the group battling, grating obvious all around. "A Real emergency," said Marca in the midst of the savage response to Saturday's battering. "Madrid left in remnants," included AS.
But then verging on overlooked in the furore is that Real Madrid have another amusement to play this week against Shakhtar Donetsk. In Ukraine. More than 2,000 kilometers away. In below zero temperatures.
That ought to be entertaining.
Similarly a colonoscopy is.
For Real Madrid, this long mid-week journey is most likely going to feel more like a trek to limbo than an attractive getaway.
As of now ensured a spot in the Champions League knockout stage, Benitez's men have little hanging in the balance in this meeting with Shakhtar in far Eastern Europe, knowing a triumph at home over Malmo in the last gathering diversion is all that is required to secure top spot in Group A. In this manner, the potential results are constrained, however so too are the prizes on offer.
This night, then, will be one just to traverse. One they don't need. One these battered and unsettled players needn't bother with.
On the other hand isn't that right?
In their present state, taking after a burning at home from their fiercest rivals, maybe what Madrid need at this time is a serene night from the spotlight of the Bernabeu to get the opportunity to work. To get their hands messy. To explode a few issues and exorcize a few evil presences. To get themselves, fundamentally.
All things considered, the best soul-looking is done out and about, would it say it isn't?
Team News
For Real Madrid, both Sergio Ramos and Marcelo will miss Wednesday's diversion in Lviv.
In spite of finishing an hour and a half in the Clasico, the Spaniard has a waiting shoulder harm, while the Brazilian was pulled back in the second 50% of that amusement and has an adductor issue that will sideline him. Accordingly, Pepe will join Raphael Varane in the focal point of the barrier, while Alvaro Arbeloa or Nacho will venture in at left-back.
In assault, in the interim, it would be an amazement if Karim Benzema began once more, given that the Frenchman looked well beneath full wellness against Barcelona, which means Casemiro could make an arrival to include an additional man in midfield.
For Shakhtar Donetsk, shields Olexandr Kucher and Darijo Srna will be lost because of suspension, both men having amassed three yellow cards so far. In their nonappearance, Ivan Ordets and Vasili Kobin could begin after a reshuffle from director Mircea Lucescu, as indicated by WhoScored.com.
Somewhere else, the hosts have no different worries, with the midfield and assault anticipated that would line up the way they did when these groups met at the Bernabeu in September.
In that unfolds, Fred and Taras Stepanenko will possess the twofold turn and sit behind an assaulting quartet set to highlight Taison, Alex Teixeira, Marlos and Olexandr Gladkiy.