Three talking points ahead of AEK Athens vs Real Madrid | UEFA Champions League

Three talking points ahead of AEK Athens vs Real Madrid | UEFA Champions League Real Madrid are currently flying high on confidence, and they appear to be more convincing and dominant on the field than they have looked in the past year. After defeating Barcelona in La Liga, they demolished Racing Santander with a 3-0 margin at the weekend and now face their next clash, which is in the UEFA Champions League. Later today, Los Blancos will lock horns against AEK Athens at the Allwyn Arena in Greece, and it will be a special occasion for the venue as Real Madrid are returning to play against AEK Athens for the first time since 2002. So far this season, the hosts have won just one of their three games in the competition and will be the underdogs. For Real Madrid, a win will take them one step closer to an ascertained top-8 finish. Madrid Universal brings you three talking points ahead of AEK Athens vs Real Madrid. Big midfield changes Jose Mourinho has made some massive decisions ahead of tonight’s game against AEK Athens, and they have to do with the midfield. Mourinho will make several changes to his starting XI against AEK Athens. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images) After an unfavourable start to the season where the midfield looked unconvincing, Jose Mourinho finally found the right balance in mixing up physical and technical profiles. Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni, in particular, struck a strong partnership which worked wonders, even against the mighty Barcelona midfield. After using the duo exhaustively in recent weeks, the manager has finally rewarded the players with a rest, and they have been completely excluded from tonight’s clash. Not only will Guler and Tchouameni not start, but they have not even travelled with the team to give their legs a rest, and massive midfield changes are expected. The spotlight will shine on Bernardo Silva, who is expected to start as the creative component of the double pivot, and it remains to be seen who the manager pairs with the Portuguese star. Meanwhile, Mourinho could even look to hand Jude Bellingham rest amidst the hectic schedule. The captain returns With the massive midfield changes expected, it becomes crucial to account for Federico Valverde’s return to the squad and the options it hands the manager. Valverde will feature against AEK Athens. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) The Uruguayan star and Real Madrid captain did not play any part at the weekend with discomfort, but is now back in the squad and there is no doubt that he will start against AEK Athens. The big question, however, is where the player will start on the night – in midfield or at right-back. “I’m sure he’ll return to playing in midfield, no matter how happy he is with his performance at full-back and how well the team is playing,” Mourinho said about Valverde in his pre-match press conference , and made it clear that the player’s primary role this season will be as a defender. With Tchouameni out, the coach must decide if he sees Valverde as the best partner for Silva in midfield, or if he prefers to retain defensive stability with the player at right-back. That decision, needless to say, remains central to how Real Madrid will line up and operate against AEK Athens on Wednesday night. Vinicius’ last meaningful chance? Real Madrid’s performances have only gotten better and better since Vinicius Jr.’s suspension in La Liga, and these are thus worrying times for the winger. Vinicius Jr. will have to perform at any cost. (Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images) The Brazilian star started off the season poorly and looked like a shadow of his former self even until his sending off against Villarreal. From that point, Mourinho began counting on Yan Diomande as his starting left-winger, and the new signing has performed phenomenally well. In his last six appearances for Real Madrid, Diomande has racked up four goals and three assists, and it already looks close to impossible for Vinicius to take his starting spot back from the record signing. Given how Diomande has worked tirelessly in the hectic schedule, Mourinho is expected to hand Vinicius Jr. a start once again tonight, especially given how the UEFA Champions League is currently his only chance of playing. Vinicius, however, is already walking on thin ice and tonight’s game may well be one of his final meaningful chances before he is sure of losing his starting spot. Diomande is impressing, and it will take a special performance from Vinicius to stake any claim to being a competitor.