Real Madrid host Borussia Dortmund in a rematch of the 2024 Champions League final, but this time Los Blancos have Kylian Mbappe in their side.

Less than five months ago, Real Madrid and Dortmund met at Wembley Stadium to crown the new winners of the Champions League. Carlo Ancelotti’s men defeated BVB thanks to goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinícius Júnior to lift the club’s 15th Champions League trophy.

The two teams will meet again on October 22 in the new competition phase of the 2024/25 Champions League. Dortmund remain perfect in the league with wins over Club Brugge and Celtic, while Los Blancos suffered a shock defeat to Lille. Real Madrid will look to get their title defense back on track, especially now that Mbappé, Rodrygo, Vinícius Jr. and Thibaut Courtois have all recovered from their respective injuries.

After Ancelotti failed three times against Celta Vigo last weekend, expect the manager to return to his typical starting XI, with his most confident players strengthening his backline in Carvajal’s absence.

This is what Real Madrid’s team could look like against Nuri Şahin’s men.

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GK: Thibaut Courtois—Courtois returned to his usual heroics this weekend after recovering from a kidnapper injury. He will make his second UCL appearance this season.

RB: Lucas Vazquez—In the wake of Dani Carvajal’s season-ending knee injury, Vázquez is Ancelotti’s new first-choice right-back.

CB: Éder MilitãoDespite the discomfort on Saturday, Militão will start against Dortmund, something he was unable to do in the 2024 UCL final due to injury.

CB: Antonio Rudiger—The 31-year-old will have the tough task of silencing Serhou Guirassy, ​​who has scored seven goals in as many games for Dortmund this season.

LB: Ferland Mendy—Expect the left-back to return to the starting XI after just 20 minutes of play against Celta Vigo.

CM: Federico ValverdeThe Uruguayan is the only player in the squad to start every match for Los Blancos this season and his streak is sure to remain intact as the midfielder prepares for his fourteenth consecutive start.

CM: Aurélien Tchouaméni—After another experiment in the backline, expect the Frenchman to return to midfield.

CM: Jude Bellingham—The England international played well as a right midfielder on Saturday but is expected to return to his preferred left side against Dortmund.

RW: Rodrygo—Rodrygo should return to the XI for the first time since suffering minor back problems in the Madrid derby. However, the 23-year-old has struggled to perform on the right flank since Mbappe’s arrival, meaning Ancelotti could keep a four-man midfield in place of the Brazilian winger.

ST: Kylian Mbappe— Fresh from scoring a screamer against Celta Vigo, Mbappé leads the team in goals despite missing time with a previous thigh injury.

LW: Vinicius Junior—The Brazilian may be Real Madrid’s second-highest goalscorer this season, but Vinicius Jr. is yet to find the back of the net in Los Blancos’ Champions League title defense.

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