Real Madrid News
Official: Real Madrid squad list against Espanyol
Real Madrid will be looking to get back to winning ways as they take on Espanyol in La Liga tomorrow night. With Barcelona’s game scheduled for later, Carlo Ancelotti’s men will have the chance to cut the deficit at the top down to six, even if it is temporarily.
With just 13 gameweeks remaining, this fixture could turn out to be crucial for Madrid in the league. They have three key players sidelined, though.
David Alaba and Ferland Mendy picked up relatively long injuries, and could be out for a few more matchdays. This leaves Ancelotti with Nacho and Eduardo Camavinga as makeshift left-backs.
Karim Benzema, too, picked up an ankle injury in training and has not been included in the squad list. The striker is expected to be replaced by one of Rodrygo or Alvaro Rodriguez in the no. 9 role.
The midfield, on the other hand, seems to have fully recovered and fits in all six first-team midfielders.
📋✅ Our squad for the match 🆚 @RCDEspanyol_EN.#RealMadridEspanyol pic.twitter.com/A4QqKI5Ss9
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) March 10, 2023
Although Antonio Rudiger has had success since joining Real Madrid last summer, the club are in need of more depth and players that can form the backbone of the defensive unit in the years to come.
As part of their plans, Real Madrid are prioritising a move for Josko Gvardiol in the coming summer, reports 90 Min.
The outlet suggests Gvardiol will be one of the most wanted prospects in the market, with both Real Madrid and Manchester City eyeing a move for the Croatian international come the end of the season.
Formerly of Dinamo Zagreb, Gvardiol has enjoyed immense success since his move to the Bundesliga in 2021. He has impressed onlookers with his skill, organisation and discipline, which, coupled with his versatility, make him an appealing target for any European giant.
Gvardiol was also one of the top performers at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, helping Croatia finish third in the competition. His performances have not gone unnoticed, with Real Madrid among the clubs who have been keeping an eye on the defender for a while now.
However, signing Gvardiol will be a tricky task for Los Blancos. The player still has a long-term contract at Leipzig and could cost up to €85 million, as reported by 90 Min. Not to mention, the competition from Man City could be significant.
Real Madrid have no shortage of alternatives, though, with the club notably closely monitoring Portuguese defensive whizkid Antonio Silva, among others. So it will be interesting to see how the Spanish giants approach the market in this coming summer.
