Real Madrid Seek Revival in Athens

Real Madrid is looking to reverse a concerning trend of poor form as they travel to face Greek side Olympiacos in the Champions League. Their recent struggles include a humbling loss to Liverpool and consecutive draws in La Liga, allowing Barcelona to close the gap in the title race. Despite these setbacks, Real Madrid is still in contention for a favorable position in the knockout stages.

The club has opted to rest several key players, including Jude Bellingham and Thibaut Courtois, for this away fixture in Athens. With other defenders still sidelined due to injuries, the team's defensive line-up sees adjustments. Arda Guler is set to play in an advanced midfield role, and Vinicius Jr. returns to the starting XI.

Meanwhile, Olympiacos is focused on finding positive momentum in their European campaign, currently sitting below the qualification threshold for the knockout stages. This match presents an opportunity for both teams to alter their European trajectories.