Basel vs. Real Madrid: How Los Blancos Should Line Up in Champions League Game

Real Madrid arrived in Switzerland on Tuesday morning ahead of their match with Basel in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

With four wins from their first four games in Europe, Carlo Ancelotti's side have already ensured their participation in the last 16 of the competition after Christmas.

And in all likelihood, the European champions are set to go through as group winners as well.

Basel, on six points, are the only side that can catch them. They'd have to beat Madrid and Liverpool, though, while also overturning the 5-1 hammering they received at the Bernabeu. Madrid would also have to lose at home to Ludogorets.

It all seems unlikely. Instead, the Swiss side will fight it out with Liverpool and Ludogorets for the second qualification spot.

So Madrid go into the match nearly assured of top spot and with a club record-equaling 15 straight wins in their sights.

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It all means Ancelotti can be flexible with his lineup but not too flexible if he does want to match the record winning streak currently shared between Jose Mourinho and Miguel Munoz.

From the 20 players who have travelled, there are three notable absentees: Luka Modric remains sidelined after he got injured on Croatia duty last weekend, while Sami Khedira and Pepe were also deemed not fit enough to make the trip.

Starting from the back, it may well prove another opportunity for Keylor Navas to have a run-out. The Costa Rican has started just three times so far this season—twice in La Liga and once in the Copa del Rey.

In front of him, Raphael Varane should come in to replace Pepe alongside Sergio Ramos. All four full-backs are in Switzerland; Ancelotti will have to choose between Alvaro Arbeloa and Dani Carvajal at right-back and Fabio Coentrao and Marcelo at left-back.

Khedira, if fit, would have been a certain starter in midfield. His absence means Isco will either continue with Toni Kroos or one of those two will be replaced by Asier Illarramendi.

Perhaps Kroos, who's started every league game and was with Germany last week, may be handed some respite by his manager.

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Another option would be to rest James Rodriguez, who like Kroos, has started every league fixture, slotting Illarramendi in alongside Kroos and giving Isco a license to play a little further up the pitch.

Across the forward line, one certainty is that Cristiano Ronaldo will begin the match. Along with Barcelona's Lionel Messi, he's hounding down Raul's Champions League goals record. Messi is already level with the former Madrid star; Ronaldo is handily poised a goal back from the duo.

Gareth Bale, who has scored once in his last six Los Blancos outings, should also start.

The final question, then, resides over the frontman. Karim Benzema has scored five times in three Champions League starts this season and has scored nine times in his last seven Madrid starts—but he may not start here.

Manchester United loanee Javier Hernandez started in Bulgaria against Ludogorets and may be given the nod once again since Ancelotti's side are not desperately seeking three points.

How Real Madrid should line up: Navas; Arbeloa, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Illarramendi, Kroos, Isco; Bale, Hernandez, Ronaldo.