Viktoria Plzen v Real Madrid - Preview and possible lineups

Viktoria Plzen:

The Czech champions are yet to record a win in this years group phase, with time quickly running out for them to make any sort of impact on their group. 

In the return tie at the Bernabéu, Plzen were a tad unlucky not to have taken a point from a Real Madrid side in the midst of a growing crisis. However it must be noted that, given the managerial switch in the Spanish capital, Plzen will no doubt find this week's tie somewhat harder than the last.

A shock victory is unlikely to occur for the Czech side on their home turf, however they will take encouragement from the away goal they mustered against Madrid last time out.

Plzen are heading into this tough tie on a rocky run of league form; they have only won 2 of their last 5 in the Czech championship, although they did win their last outing against Banik Ostrava at the weekend, which saw them go joint top of the table.

Real Madrid:

The recording of a vital win in the reverse fixture against the Czech champions, did not buy too much extra time for boss Julen Lopetegui, who has since been sacked from the Madrid helm.

Interim boss Santi Solari is set to be given the job for the remainder of the current campaign, and makes his personal Champions League managerial bow with this away match in Pilsen on Wednesday.

Solari's first act as a Champions League manager could be to axe Gareth Bale from the starting lineup, replacing him with youngster Vinicius. Bale's form has been a cause for complaint in recent weeks, and as such, he could drop the winger in favor of the new fan favourite.

Despite a league victory at home to Valladolid at the weekend, the performance was still far from convincing from the Madrid players, and so the interim boss has his work cut out to ensure the European champions avoid an embarrassing group stage exit in this year's competition.

The encounter marks the first of four consecutive away matches for 'Los Blancos', and, if the side  truly hope to revive their season, they will need to record more than a last gasp victory away to the tricky Czech minnows. 

Pavel Vrba and striker Patrik Hrošovský on Real Madrid:

""I know what we're capable of. And I hope the players found that out as well in our first match. But of course we know who will stand against us." - Vrba

""I don't know, if they will pay a special attention to me. Maybe if I scored that chance in first half… I think it's never about one player and they prepared well for our whole team."- Hrošovský 

Santi Solari on Plzen, his interim tenure, and Vinicius:

"This competition has always been very nice for us. When the anthem is played, we get excited and I'm happy that I get to lead a Champions League match tomorrow. "

"We won two difficult matches that we managed to get through, but tomorrow we will have to do the same to continue improving."

(On the lenghth of his tenure) "I can only look at tomorrow's game [Wednesday] I am fully committed to this role, whether if it is for a day or for a week. "

(On Vinicius) "We are all excited every time a player comes out that shows us different things, but we know that he is very young and has so much time ahead." 

Did you know?

Last month's fixture at the Bernabéu marked the first time in history that the two clubs have faced off in a competitive match.

This will be Madrid's first trip to the Czech Republic since a 3-2 win at Sparta Prague in November 2001.

Plzen's last home game against Spanish opposition ended in a 3-3 draw in 2015-16, when they faced Villarreal in the Europa League.

Possible Lineups

Viktoria Plzen: Kozacik; Reznik, Hejda, Hubnik, Limbersky; Hrosovsky, Prochazka; Havel, Cermak, Petrzela; Reznicek.

Real Madrid: Navas; Odriozola, Nacho, Ramos, Reguilon; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Bale, Benzema, Vinicius.