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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

Real Madrid vs Bayern lineups: Starting XIs, confirmed team news, injury latest for Champions League

Kylian Mbappe leads Harry Kane for goals in the Champions League this season - (Getty Images)

Vinicius Junior and Federico Valverde eturn for Real Madrid against Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final first leg tonight.

Valverde missed Real Madrid’s 2-1 loss to Real Mallorca at the weekend because of suspension after being sent off in the win over Atletico Madrid before the international break.

FOLLOW REAL MADRID VS BAYERN MUNICH LIVE!

Vinicius Jr, meanwhile, was partially rested at the Estadi de Son Moix as he started on the bench before replacing youngster Manuel Angel Moran in the second half as Los Blancos chased an equaliser.

Both players start at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Moran and Brahim Diaz making way.

Jude Bellingham is available for selection following a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, though he settles for a place on the bench as Thiago Pitarch gets the nod in central midfield alongside Aurelien Tchouameni.

Thibaut Courtois and Rodrygo will miss both legs through injury, while Dani Ceballos and Ferland Mendy were doubtful despite taking part in training. Mendy does not make the bench, but former Arsenal midfielder Ceballos does.

Vinicius Junior during a Real Madrid training session this week (AFP via Getty Images)

Bayern Munich, though, are boosted by the return of Harry Kane for the trip to Spain after the England international trained with his team-mates on Monday morning.

Kane, who has scored ten Champions League goals this season, missed the win over Freiburg at the weekend because of an ankle issue that forced him to sit out the Three Lions’ loss to Japan.

However, the striker is fine to lead the line with support from the attacking midfield trio of Michael Olise, Serge Gnabry and Luis Diaz.

Manuel Neuer, Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies have all returned to fitness since the second leg win over Atalanta, but the latter pair on the bench as their minutes are carefully managed.

Starting Real Madrid XI (4-4-2): Lunin; Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Pitarch, Tchouameni, Arda Guler; Mbappe, Vinicius Jr.

Subs: Gonzalez, Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Bellingham, Camavinga, Garcia, Asencio, Ceballos, Garcia, Diaz, Mastantuono

Injured: Courtois, Rodrygo

Harry Kane has been included in the travelling squad (Getty Images)

Starting Bayern Munich XI (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Stanisic, Upamecano, Tah, Laimer; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Gnabry, Olise, Diaz; Kane

Subs: Urbig, Kim, Goretzka, Musiala, Jackson, Davies, Bischof, Ito, Guerreiro, Karl

Time and date: 8pm BST today, Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Venue: Santiago Bernabeu

How to watch: TNT Sports

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