Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti could potentially avoid risking Jude Bellingham for Wednesday's Champions League showdown with Braga in Group C.
The 20-year-old completed the full 90 minutes of Sunday's goalless La Liga draw with Rayo Vallecano, but he sustained a shoulder issue in the first half, which Ancelotti confirmed would require further assessment.
Real's top goalscorer has been named in the matchday squad for the clash with the Archbishops, but it is not impossible to envisage him being named on the bench, leaving Ancelotti with an intriguing formation dilemma.
The Italian stuck with a 4-3-1-2 when Bellingham was benched for a La Liga win over Las Palmas earlier this term, as Brahim Diaz started behind the front two as the most advanced midfielder.
A fit-again Arda Guler could also occupy that position, but Ancelotti could also revert to his previous 4-3-3, which would allow Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior to occupy their preferred wide roles either side of leading marksman Joselu.
Elsewhere, Eduardo Camavinga should act as the deepest-lying midfielder with Aurelien Tchouameni absent, while Toni Kroos could demote Luka Modric to start alongside the Frenchman and Federico Valverde, but Dani Ceballos's muscular problem means that the ex-Arsenal loanee is out of the contest.
Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao also remain sidelined with their severe ACL problems, but Ferland Mendy - who was rested at the weekend due to fatigue - should come back into the rearguard, where Kepa Arrizabalaga, David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger and Dani Carvajal will remain.
Real Madrid possible starting lineup: Kepa; Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Mendy; Valverde, Camavinga, Kroos; Rodrygo, Joselu, Vinicius Junior
Ben Knapton
