Real Madrid will be without five players for Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 first leg against Bundesliga club RB Leipzig.
Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao are expected to play before the end of the season, although both suffered ACL injuries in August and are currently unavailable for selection.
David Alaba, meanwhile, is out until next season due to an ACL injury sustained at the conclusion of last year.
Head coach Carlo Ancelotti also stated on Saturday that Antonio Rudiger would miss the European fixture due to a thigh injury he sustained against Getafe earlier this month.
Rudiger will be out for at least one more match, but there is good news on the injury front for the defence, with Nacho back after missing Saturday’s 4-0 win over Girona due to a muscle ailment.
“It was the knock he got against Getafe. It bruised up and caused a bit of a tear. He tried his best yesterday but he was struggling in the change of direction,” Ancelotti told reporters after the match against Girona.
“He won’t play on Tuesday but we’ve got Nacho back. I hope he’ll be available again soon.”
“He won’t play on Tuesday but we’ve got Nacho back. I hope he’ll be available again soon.”
Real Madrid will also be losing Jude Bellingham, who suffered an ankle injury after scoring a brace against Girona.
Los Blancos have not set a timetable on Bellingham’s absence, but transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has claimed that the midfielder will be out for at least the next two to three weeks.
Jacobo Ramon and Alvaro Carrillo profit from defensive absentees named to the team, while Mario Martin and Nico Paz can play in midfield.
“We’re pleased to be going back into the Champions League with a lead in La Liga despite the difficulties we’ve had so far with injuries,” Ancelotti told reporters on Saturday.
“We’re really excited and we’re up against opposition who we must be very careful of. We have to prepare every game like we did today.”
Real Madrid has won the Champions League 14 times, with their most recent title coming in 2022, when they defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the final.
Real Madrid roster versus RB Leipzig:
Lunin, Kepa, Fran; Carvajal, Nacho, Vazquez, F Garcia, Mendy, Carrillo, Ramon; Kroos, Modric, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni, Ceballos, Guler, Martin, Paz; Vinicius, Rodrygo, Joselu, and Brahim
