RB Salzburg vs. Real Madrid lineups, team news, score prediction: Mbappe likely to return

With some clubs holding a precarious grip connected nan qualifying positions successful their Club World Cup group, Real Madrid and Red Bull Salzburg meet to find nan knockout participants successful Philadelphia connected Thursday.

The 2 sides are level atop nan Group H standings connected points, pinch Real Madrid holding a slim differential advantage. A tie would spot Real Madrid suffice for nan knockout stage, but would time off Salzburg susceptible if Al Hilal pummel Pachuca successful nan different match.

Defeat for either club, meanwhile, would besides put them successful threat should Al Hilal walk their test.

This could beryllium nan return of Kylian Mbappe for his debut nether caller head Xabi Alonso, pinch nan French prima having missed nan first 2 games of nan title aft falling ill.

The Sporting News runs done nan latest squad news and wounded updates for some sides arsenic nan lucifer draws nearer.

MORE: Xabi Alonso strategies taking style astatine Real Madrid | Antonio Rudiger group maltreatment declare being investigated

RB Salzburg vs. Real Madrid predicted lineups, squad news

The biggest sanction to cognize successful nan RB Salzburg squad is 21-year-old attacking midfielder Oscar Gloukh, who already has 21 caps for Israel and has been linked pinch Liverpool successful nan past fewer years.

Ivorian defender Karim Konate is retired aft tearing his ACL backmost successful November, while midfielder Nicolas Capaldo was not included connected nan roster while he recovers from a surgery toe. Those are conscionable 2 of a number of injuries that impacted nan RB Salzburg squad for this competition.

That was worsened as Valentin Sulzbacher was withdrawn early successful nan 2nd half of their opener pinch a thigh wounded and missed nan caller tie pinch Al Hilal.

RB Salzburg predicted XI (4-4-2, correct to left): Zawieschitzky (GK) — Lainer, Gadou, Rasmussen, Kratzig — Dorgeles, Bidstrup, Diabate, Gloukh — Baidoo, Onisiwo.

Injured: Konate (ACL), Capaldo (foot), Kawamura (knee), Schlager (hand), Guindo (knee), Sulzbacher (thigh), Caufriez (back).
Suspended: None.
On a yellowish card: Diabate, Kitano.

Full RB Salzburg squad

Goalkeepers: Salko Hamzic, Jonas Krumrey, Alexander Schlager, Christian Zawieschitzky

Defenders: Samson Baidoo, Joane Gadou, Frans Kraetzig, Stefan Lainer, John Mellberg, Jacob Rasmussen, Jannik Schuster, Tim Trummer

Midfielders: Mads Bidstrup, Soumaila Diabate, Mamady Diambou, Oscar Gloukh, Takumu Kawamura, Maurits Kjaergaard, Valentin Sulzbacher

Forwards: Enrique Aguilar, Edmund Baidoo, Adam Daghim, Sota Kitano, Dorgeles Nene, Karim Onisiwo, Petar Ratkov, Yorbe Vertessen, Moussa Yeo

Kylian Mbappe was hospitalised by a bout of gastroenteritis and missed nan first 2 matches of nan Club World Cup, but was discharged up of nan Pachuca crippled and is apt to return. Given Madrid's qualification to nan knockout shape and nan bully performances by Gonzalo Garcia in nan first 2 games, Mbappe could beryllium started connected nan chair and eased backmost successful for early matches.

Endrick, nan accustomed screen for Mbappe, did not recreation owed to a hamstring wounded and remains sidelined arsenic portion of nan lengthy absentee list. However, that eased somewhat as Antonio Rudiger returned from a knee wounded successful a precocious substitute quality against Pachuca and whitethorn beryllium eased backmost in.

Trent Alexander-Arnold could beryllium rested aft a grueling first 2 starts pinch nan club, but with Dani Carvajal still out, there's very small screen astatine nan right-back position. Jude Bellingham may beryllium different campaigner for rest, but midfield is besides bladed with Eduardo Camavinga still absent pinch a musculus wounded of his own. Raul Asencio is suspended aft his early reddish paper against Pachuca.

MORE: All nan latest Real Madrid news

Real Madrid predicted XI (4-3-3, correct to left): Courtois (GK) — Valverde, Ramon, Huijsen, F. Garcia — Guler, Tchouameni, Ceballos — Rodrygo, G. Garcia, Vinicius Jr.

Injured: Mbappe (illness, doubt), Carvajal (knee), Camavinga (knee), Endrick hamstring), Militao (knee), Mendy (muscle).
Suspended: Asencio (red card).
On a yellowish card: Vinicius Jr.

Full Real Madrid squad

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Fran Gonzalez, Andriy Lunin, Sergio Mestre.

Defenders: Diego Aguado, David Alaba, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Raul Asencio, Dani Carvajal, Jesus Fortea, Fran Garcia, Dean Huijsen, Ferland Mendy, Eder Militao, Jacobo Ramon, Antonio Rudiger, Lucas Vazquez, Yusi.

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos, Chema, Arda Guler, Mario Martin, Luka Modric, Victor Munoz, Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde.

Forwards: Brahim Diaz, Endrick, Gonzalo Garcia, Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior.

RB Salzburg vs. Real Madrid people prediction

Real Madrid person improved somewhat nether Xabi Alonso, but location are clear increasing pains still. While Madrid will cognize they person not yet qualified for nan knockout stage, they won't beryllium arsenic motivated to triumph arsenic RB Salzburg, arsenic a tie sees them through.

Therefore, it wouldn't beryllium shocking to spot them look to simply clasp patient and easiness their measurement done pinch a point.

Prediction: RB Salzburg 2-2 Real Madrid

How to watch RB Salzburg vs. Real Madrid: Live stream, TV channel

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