Real Madrid News
Official: Real Madrid confirm thigh injury to 29-year-old star
Following his last-minute withdrawal from the starting lineup for the game against SC Braga earlier this week, Real Madrid have officially confirmed that Kepa Arrizabalaga has a thigh injury.
Kepa was named in the starting lineup for the Braga clash on Wednesday night at the Santiago Bernabeu, but minutes before the start, Los Blancos announced that he would be replaced by Andriy Lunin in the team.
It soon emerged that Kepa had picked up an injury during the warm-up before the match and now Real Madrid have officially confirmed the nature of the Chelsea loanee’s injury.
“Following tests carried out on our player Kepa Arrizabalaga by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the adductor longus muscle in his right thigh. Evolution pending,” read the statement from the club.
If reports are to be believed, Kepa will be out of action for a period of two to three weeks, meaning he is ruled out of tomorrow’s match against Valencia.
Kepa was brought in on loan during the summer after Thibaut Courtois suffered an ACL injury. Now the 29-year-old Chelsea loanee himself faces a spell out on the sidelines.
Andriy Lunin did a solid job against Braga earlier this week and more of the same will be expected from him during Kepa’s absence.
Real Madrid are back in the Champions League following their impressive win against Cadiz on the weekend as they host Napoli at the Santiago Bernabeu for gameweek five.
They have already secured qualification to the round of 16, and even a point today would secure first place in the group.
With several players still injured, Carlo Ancelotti has opted for his best available starting lineup, with Daniel Carvajal taking responsibility of the captain’s armband at right-back. He will be aided by Ferland Mendy, who starts on the other side.
Meanwhile, in between them, David Alaba returns to the fold as the starting centre-back, partnering Antonio Rudiger. This duo has the responsibility of screening Andriy Lunin, who continues in goal in Kepa and Thibaut Courtois’ absence.
With both Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni out, Toni Kroos gets the chance to play as the holding midfielder for two games in a row. Federico Valverde retains his spot, as well, while Dani Ceballos comes in for the injured Luka Modric in central midfield.
Rodrygo will spearhead the team’s frontline as one of the two twin forwards, while Brahim Diaz gets the nod over Joselu. Jude Bellingham is the final, and arguably the most important piece of the puzzle, playing behind the front-two.
📋✅ Our starting 𝗫𝗜!
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) November 29, 2023
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Confirmed Madrid XI: Lunin; Carvajal, Rudiger, Alaba, Mendy; Valverde, Kroos, Ceballos; Bellingham; Diaz, Rodrygo
