Real Madrid, Malaga face away games in Champions League

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho looks as if he will introduce changes in his side for their Champions League trip to play Ajax on Wednesday night. Mourinho rested players such as Karim Benzema, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa for the 5-1 win at home to Deportivo la Coruna on Sunday and was rewarded with a solid display of attacking football. However, with Alonso almost certain to return it is interesting to see who will make way. Mesut Ozil and Luka Modric both performed well in the win, with Modric occupying Alonso's role alongside Sami Khedira. That may signal Modric as the player to miss out, but the Croatian performed well and could move into attacking role with the German missing out. This could be the likely option as Mourinho tends to be more cautious away from home, even though his side twice defeated Ajax in last year's competition. It will also be fascinating to see what Mourinho does with the Madrid defense after me moved Sergio Ramos to right back for the Deportivo game to allow Rafael Varene to play in central defense. Relations between Mourinho and Ramos are thought to be poor and whether Ramos moves back into the middle or starts the game on the bench could be a good gauge of judging the 'feeling' between the pair. Meanwhile Karim Benzema will probably replace Gonzalo Higuain in the Real Madrid attack, while Marcelo looks likely to carry on at left back. Madrid are not the only Spanish side in Champions League action on Wednesday as Malaga look to continue with incredible start to the campaign. Manuel Pellegrini's team travel to face Anderlecht in Brussels in a game where the Spanish side will have to match the physical workload of the Belgian Champions. Pellegrini is still without Jeremy Toulalan for the match as Malaga aim to build on their spectacular 3-0 opening Champions league opener against Zenit St Petersburg a fortnight ago.