Real Madrid is set to meet Liverpool in the Champions League for the ninth time this decade, but the team will be without its top scorer.
Real Madrid's European title defense has gotten off to a shaky start. Los Blancos sit in 18th place in the Champions League standings after suffering defeats to Lille and AC Milan. Now, the club's biggest test is here with a trip to Anfield.
Liverpool, meanwhile, collected victories in all four of its UCL matches, giving Arne Slot's side the best record in the Champions League. The Reds also sit atop the Premier League standings with 31 points.
Carlo Ancelotti's side comes into the matchup with history on its side. After all, Real Madrid defeated Liverpool in the 2018 and 2022 Champions League finals, and five other times in the clubs' last eight clashes. Yet the Reds are the favorite to walk away with all three points against an injury-plagued Real Madrid side without Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, David Alaba and Aurélien Tchouaméni.
The pressure will be on Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham to carry the goalscoring load for the visitors, especially if Ancelotti opts for a more defensive-minded lineup.
Here's what Real Madrid's XI could look like against Slot's men Nov. 26.






