Real Madrid v RB Leipzig: Camavinga starts in midfield as Rodrygo and Mendy miss out

The teamsheets dropped an hour before the 8pm kick-off at the Bernabeu: Courtois; Valverde, Huijsen, Rudiger and Carreras across the back; Bernardo Silva and Eduardo Camavinga in front of the defence; Guler, Bellingham and Vinicius behind Kylian Mbappe, the lone striker. Vinicius, suspended in La Liga, is free to play in Europe. Matchday three of the league phase, and Jose Mourinho’s 100th day since his return to the club.

Rodrygo, Asencio and Mendy all missing

Real are without Rodrygo, Raul Asencio and Ferland Mendy, injured according to Foot Mercato, while Eder Militao’s return to European action is confirmed. Leipzig coach Martin Demichelis is without Guiu, Ouedraogo and Zingerle: Vandervoordt in goal, Orban and Lukeba at centre-back, Nkunku, Nusa and Gruda supporting lone striker Romulo Cardoso. Yan Diomande, who left Leipzig for €120m this summer, watches it all from the Madrid bench.

Two sides on opposite trajectories

Real won their first two European games, against Inter (2-1) and Roma (4-3), then beat Sevilla 4-1 in La Liga on Saturday. Leipzig opened with a 4-1 defeat to Como, recovered against PSV Eindhoven (1-0) and were swept aside 6-1 by Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga last weekend.

An evening already under way

Earlier in the evening, Lille went down 2-4 to Galatasaray, and Como beat Manchester United 4-1. At 8pm, Bayern Munich host Arsenal without Joshua Kimmich, who is mourning a family loss, and without the suspended Michael Olise, while Aston Villa face Viking FK with John McGinn back in the starting eleven before Manchester City visit Villa Park on Saturday. And on Tuesday night at the Parc des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain beat Barcelona 4-2 in the other heavyweight tie of matchday three.