Real Madrid will host Moldovan outfit Sheriff Tiraspol in the Champions League group stage.
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu
Key Statistics
- This will be the first-ever meeting between these two sides in the European Competitions.
- Sheriff opened their account in the Champions League this season with a shocking 2-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk while Madrid prevailed against Inter Milan in the opening matchday.
Head to Head
As said before Real Madrid will play Sheriff Tiraspol for the first time in the Champions League. Perhaps it will be the second meeting between a Spanish team and Moldovan since Real Betis vs Zimbru Chisinau in the UEFA Cup 2002-03.
Recent form
Real Madrid: D-W-W-W-W-W (Goals for 15, Goals against 4)
Sheriff: W W D W W W (Goals for 18, Goals against 1)
Real Madrid
Real Madrid have hit the ground running in La Liga this season as they have registered 5 wins in 7 games – with two games ending in draws.
Carlo Ancelotti is proving to be a perfect successor to Zinedine Zidane as the Italian boss has built a winning unit that is capable of reclaiming both La Liga and Champions League crowns.
The attack has been relentless with Karim Benzema and Vinicius Jr firing in all cylinders while Marco Asensio has also entered the fray after his hat-trick against Mallorca.
However, Los Blancos were held to a stalemate by a gritty Villarreal team on the weekend. Nonetheless, Madrid are still the leaders of the league table and the clear favourites against Moldovan minnows Sheriff.
Possible line-ups
Thibaut Courtois; Nacho, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Miguel Gutiérrez; Casemiro, Federico Valverde, Luka Modric; Vinicius Junior, Marco Asensio, Karim Benzema
Unavailable
Ceballos (ankle), Marcelo (hamstring), Mendy (muscle strain), Carvajal (calf), Bale (knee)
Doubtful: Kroos (match fitness)
Sheriff Tiraspol
Sheriff have had a dream start to their first-ever Champions League campaign, beating Roberto De Zerbi’s Shakhtar 2-0 in the opening matchday.
Furthermore, they are coming on the back of a thumping 7 – 0 win against Dinamo Auto in the Moldovan top-flight where they are currently third in the table.
Possible line-ups
Giorgos Athanasiadis; Fernando Costanza, Danilo Arboleda, Gustavo Dulanto, Cristiano; Dimitrios Kolovos, Edmund Addo, Sebastien Thill; Adama Traore, Jasurbek Yakhshiboev, Frank Castañeda
Unavailable
Pleşco (suspended), Belousov (knee)
Doubtful: Kyabou (unspecified), Yansane (unspecified)
Probability
Real Madrid win : Draw : Sheriff win :: 85% : 10% : 5%
Teams to score total 3 goals or more : 70%
Prediction
Real Madrid 3 – 1 Sheriff
