Atalanta vs. Real Madrid: Team News and Expected Lineups Ahead of Champions League Clash

Real Madrid, currently struggling in the newly formatted league phase of the tournament, sits at 25th in the standings, needing a strong performance to keep their hopes alive. They have suffered three defeats in their last five matches, putting significant pressure on manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Atalanta, on the other hand, is enjoying a stellar run, having accumulated 11 points from five Champions League games this season and coming off a recent 2-1 victory over AC Milan in Serie A. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini is set to make limited changes to his winning lineup, although they will miss key players Juan Cuadrado, Davide Zappacosta, and Gianluca Scamacca due to injuries. It is expected that Giorgio Scalvini will join the defense to strengthen Atalanta's backline.

For Real Madrid, the return of Brazilian forwards Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo is a massive boost, as both players were sidelined in recent matches. However, the team will still be without several injured players, including Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, Eder Militao, and Ferland Mendy. Fran Garcia is anticipated to step in at left-back in Mendy's absence, while Eduardo Camavinga will remain in Madrid as a precautionary measure. The expected starting lineups for both teams are as follows:

Atalanta (3-5-2):  
- Goalkeeper: Carnesecchi  
- Defenders: Scalvini, Djimsiti, Hien  
- Midfielders: Bellanova, De Roon, Pasalic, Ederson, Ruggeri  
- Forwards: Lookman, De Ketelaere  

Real Madrid (4-3-3):  
- Goalkeeper: Courtois  
- Defenders: Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, Garcia  
- Midfielders: Valverde, Bellingham, Modric  
- Forwards: Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Jr.  

Training Session: