REAL MADRID released their starting line up for Wednesday’s mammoth Champions League semi-final second leg against Manchester City TWO HOURS before kick off.
Team news is usually revealed an hour before the scheduled start, but was brought forward by Carlo Ancelotti amid suspicions of a dressing-room mole.
Carlo Ancelotti named his Real Madrid starting line up to face Manchester City two hours before kick off Credit: Getty Fortunately for Real Madrid, it made no difference as they produced a stunning late fightback to win 6-5 on aggregate.
Ancelotti has tended to name his side early in recent weeks after his line-ups were reportedly being leaked to a Spanish radio station.
Last month, Isco was forced to deny he is the Madrid mole, with the out-of-favour playmaker joking he isn’t even invited to team meetings to know them in the first place.
And with the culprit still undetected, Ancelotti’s side for the mouthwatering clash with City was announced early to eliminate the chances of it being leaked elsewhere.
Madrid made two changes to the side that lost last week’s thriller at the Etihad.
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Blues fear Kante & Jorginho will quit in mass exodus with takeover in crisis Defender Nacho and midfielder Casemiro are in for David Alaba and Rodrygo.
In-form striker Karim Benzema led the line again for Los Blancos looking to add to the two goals, including a Panenka penalty, that he netted in the first leg.
Manchester City, meanwhile, announced their starting line up a full 45 minutes later.
Pep Guardiola welcomed back Kyle Walker in place of the injured John Stones, while Joao Cancelo in for Oleksandr Zinchenko was the other change from the team that started the first leg.
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Back in April 29-year-old Real Madrid midfielder Isco was accused of being the leak inside Ancelotti’s dressing room.
But hitting back at the allegations, he wrote on social media: “Isco is not [the mole], since I am not summoned and I have not attended the team talk.
“Send hate elsewhere! SAD.”
Ancelotti was aiming to guide Real Madrid into the final of this year’s Champions League just days after securing the LaLiga title.
The 62-year-old was pictured puffing on a cigar during the celebrations after becoming the first manager ever to win each of Europe’s top five leagues.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
