Shakhtar Donetsk vs. Real Madrid: Team News, Predicted XIs, Live Stream, TV Info
So Real Madrid still have a manager. For now, anyway.
On Monday, following the annihilation at the hands of Barcelona at the Bernabeu, club president Florentino Perez used a press conference to publicly back Rafa Benitez, also hitting out at the media and fans alike for what he described as attempts to "destabilise" the club.
"I understand that the fans are upset about Saturday but we think now is the time to keep working with rigour, serenity and the unity of everyone," he said. "Rafa Benitez has all our support and all our confidence."
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Of course, it was only back in March when Perez used an identical occasion to say exactly the same about Carlo Ancelotti. There's a common denominator here, you feel.
From Perez, the man who remains central to Real Madrid's issues, Monday was essentially an exercise in self-defence.
Following chants for his resignation at the Bernabeu during Saturday's Clasico, this was an attempt to take heat away from himself, pinning Madrid's current predicament on both Ancelotti and an external campaign, and thus justifying his decisions since. Doing otherwise would have been to admit mistakes, weakening his political position. And he was never going to do that.
Regardless, though, his club is one engulfed in institutional turmoil, the team struggling, friction evident everywhere. "A Real crisis," said Marca amid the savage reaction to Saturday's mauling. "Madrid left in ruins," added AS.
And yet almost forgotten in the furore is that Real Madrid have another game to play this week against Shakhtar Donetsk. In Ukraine. More than 2,000 kilometres away. In sub-zero temperatures.
That should be fun.
In the same way a colonoscopy is.
For Real Madrid, this long mid-week excursion is probably going to feel more like a trip to purgatory than a desirable getaway.
Already guaranteed a place in the Champions League knockout stage, Benitez's men have little on the line in this meeting with Shakhtar in far Eastern Europe, knowing a victory at home over Malmo in the final group game is all that's required to secure top spot in Group A. Thus, the potential consequences are limited, but so too are the rewards on offer.
This night, then, will be one just to get through. One they don't want. One these battered and demoralised players don't need.
Or do they?
In their current state, following a torching at home from their fiercest rivals, perhaps what Madrid need right now is a low-key night away from the spotlight of the Bernabeu to get to work. To get their hands dirty. To thrash out some issues and exorcise some demons. To find themselves, basically.
After all, the best soul-searching is done on the road, isn't it?
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.)
Live Stream: BT Sport Online Player (UK), Fox Sports Go (U.S.)
Form Lines
| W: 4-0 vs. Volyn | L: 0-4 vs. Barcelona |
| D: 1-1 vs. Antalyaspor | L: 2-3 vs. Sevilla |
| W: 3-2 vs. Olexandria | W: 1-0 vs. Paris Saint-Germain |
| W: 4-0 vs. Malmo | W: 3-1 vs. Las Palmas |
| W: 7-1 vs. Zorya | W: 3-1 vs. Celta Vigo |
| L: 0-1 vs. Malmo | D: 0-0 vs. Paris Saint-Germain |
Team News
For Real Madrid, both Sergio Ramos and Marcelo will miss Wednesday's game in Lviv.
Despite completing 90 minutes in the Clasico, the Spaniard has a lingering shoulder injury, while the Brazilian was withdrawn in the second half of that game and has an adductor issue that will sideline him. As a result, Pepe will join Raphael Varane in the centre of the defence, while Alvaro Arbeloa or Nacho will step in at left-back.
In attack, meanwhile, it would be a surprise if Karim Benzema started again, given that the Frenchman looked well below full fitness against Barcelona, meaning Casemiro could make a return to add an extra man in midfield.
For Shakhtar Donetsk, defenders Olexandr Kucher and Darijo Srna will be missing due to suspension, both men having accumulated three yellow cards thus far. In their absence, Ivan Ordets and Vasili Kobin could start after a reshuffle from manager Mircea Lucescu, according to WhoScored.com.
Elsewhere, the hosts have no other concerns, with the midfield and attack expected to line up the way they did when these teams met at the Bernabeu in September.
In that transpires, Fred and Taras Stepanenko will occupy the double pivot and sit behind an attacking quartet set to feature Taison, Alex Teixeira, Marlos and Olexandr Gladkiy.
Predicted Lineups
In the Spotlight
"It's all rumours so far," said Teixeira to GloboEsporte.com (h/t Goal) in October. Though he was playing them down, he seemed rather pleased about them too. "I'm glad to hear a club as big as Chelsea is interested in me," he added.
If the Blues are, it's not hard to understand why.
In 13 league appearances this season, Teixeira has stormed to 19 goals and is on track to shatter the league record for strikes in a single season. Unsurprisingly, he's led his side to the summit of the Ukrainian Premier League in the process and looks almost certain to join a prominent club in a heavyweight league in the near future.
If he were to do so, Teixeira would continue Shakhtar's strong recent record of cashing in on Brazilian talent. In the summer just gone, the club sold Douglas Costa to Bayern Munich; two years earlier, the club received big fees for Fernandinho and Willian.
Might Teixeira follow suit?
If he were to star against Real Madrid, any questions would be extinguished.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Shakhtar Donetsk: 14-5
Draw: 14-5
Real Madrid: 10-11
