Madrid face Betis this Friday and will do so with a ‘heavy’ absence in defence. David Alaba has suffered a muscle strain and has not been called up to the squad, casting doubt on his presence in the final against Liverpool....CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
Real Madrid will play their last LaLiga Santander game of the season against Betis. The LaLiga Champions see this game as their final rehearsal before travelling to Paris to face Liverpool in the Champions League final.
For the clash against Manuel Pellegrini’s side, Carlo Ancelotti has almost his entire squad available. However, there is one major absentee that worries Los Blancos ahead of the duel to lift the UCL title.
David Alaba did not train with his teammates on Thursday morning after suffering a muscle strain and was left out of the squad. The ‘ordeal’ of the former Bayern player began during the visit of Madrid to Osasuna, where he injured his abductor.
The player forced to be in the Champions League semis against City, but had to leave the field at half-time after not being able to continue due to his physical problem and since then he has not returned to the pitch.
However, the player is expected to be fit for the decisive game against Liverpool although his absence is not ruled out. The player has been working on his fitness for the last three weeks and, despite this latest setback, is expected to be available for the Reggiolo boss on 28 May, when Madrid seek to win their 14th European Cup.
Should he not arrive in time, the already storied Real Madrid player, Nacho Fernández, will have to step up to the plate. The Madrid youth product has been forced to cover for the various absentees that Los Blancos have suffered in recent times, as his versatility allows him to cover both the flanks and the centre of the back four.
The Spaniard played an ‘imperial’ game against City and has maintained his good level while Alaba has been out, showing leadership and commitment, so the position would be well covered.
A Militao on the ‘down’ list
In addition to the physical condition of the Real Madrid ‘4’, there is concern at the heart of Madrid about the drop in performance of Éder Militao.
The Brazilian had been one of the team’s most outstanding players during the season and had established himself as the centre-back of the club’s future.
However, over the last month the defender’s performances have left more doubts than certainties and concern has grown at Madrid, who see how they could reach the final with their central defence affected by injuries and the poor form of one of their assets. Time will tell, but beyond the uncertainty, Madrid are confident.