Real Madrid News
Opponent watch: Man City defender not in training ahead of Real Madrid encounter
In what could be a boost for Real Madrid and a blow for Manchester City, Nathan Ake is not training with the team ahead of tomorrow’s UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, according to Simon Stone of BBC Sport.
The champions of Spain square off against their English counterparts in the semi-finals of Europe’s premier competition, in a replay of last season’s semis.
Having been eliminated while on the brink of qualification to the finals last time out, Manchester City have revenge on their minds heading into the semi-final tie.
However, they might have to make do without one of Pep Guardiola’s regulars in their side as defender Nathan Ake is nursing an injury and did not train with the team today.
The 28-year-old Netherlands international had returned from an injury only last week, but picked up a fresh one during the Cityzens’ Premier League clash against Leeds United on Saturday.
Ake had to be substituted ten minutes into the second half due to his injury, which cast doubts on his involvement in tomorrow’s clash.
And now, as per the update from Simon Stone, the Netherlands international was not seen in training with the rest of the team today, which could potentially hint that he might be out of the match.
This could come as a blow for Guardiola, given that Ake has been a critical part of his new system at City. The defender has played 38 times across all competitions, featuring as a centre-back and at left-back, and even scoring three goals.
A clearer picture of his availability should emerge later today when the manager appears for the pre-match press conference.
As for Real Madrid, they will have to make do without midfielder Dani Ceballos, who is out with a thigh injury.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid resolve their pitch problems as the Bernabeu surface returns to good condition
After years of problems with the pitch, Real Madrid now believe that those issues are now a thing of the past, reports MARCA.
For several seasons, the playing surface at the Santiago Bernabeu had become one of Real Madrid’s biggest headaches. Five pitch changes in a single season, paint used to disguise its poor appearance on television and criticism from all sides.
The club had been trying to solve the problem for some time and now, they believe they have finally found an answer.
The Bernabeu begins to put its turf problems behind it
The latest operation was accelerated following the NFL game between the Miami Dolphins and the Commanders, forcing the club to replace the playing surface in just 72 hours to meet the deadline last season. This time, however, there was an important difference.
After establishing that the underlying structure was in good condition, Real Madrid decided to retain the existing turf panels and hybrid stitching system rather than remove everything and start again.
The new grass was installed over the existing base after being cultivated for several months. The variety selected was RyeBlue Deportivo, a high-performance mixture consisting of 50% perennial ryegrass and 50% Poa pratensis.
Real Madrid hoped the combination would provide a definitive solution. The club’s groundskeeping team has since refined the maintenance process, and the results are encouraging.
The Bernabeu is now in a condition that satisfies the club, and there are no plans to make further changes to the playing surface during the season.
It is the outcome Real Madrid have been pursuing for years, following a situation that eventually concerned the players themselves.
Major concerts remain the Bernabeu’s outstanding challenge
While the pitch problem appears to have been brought under control, the return of major concerts remains the Bernabeu’s biggest unresolved issue.
Real Madrid have spent months working to address the noise problems that forced them to suspend large-scale concerts.
The work has included soundproofing improvements and other measures designed to prevent noise from escaping the stadium. However, there is still no confirmed date for the return of major events.
Real Madrid believe the work carried out has brought the stadium closer to an optimal level of sound insulation.
Several areas have been reinforced to reduce noise escaping outside, with particular attention paid to entrances, enclosures and other points through which sound waves could travel.
The structural soundproofing work is understood to be nearing completion, with final architectural finishing work and official sound-emission tests still outstanding.
In the meantime, Real Madrid are exploring ways to make a return to large-scale events more feasible.
The aim is to make full use of the improvements already completed and establish a model that allows the club to revive an activity that was one of the major commercial attractions of the renovated stadium.
Until that becomes possible, Real Madrid continue to explore other ways of generating revenue from the Bernabeu. Corporate events, award ceremonies, conferences and private celebrations remain among the alternatives.
For Real Madrid, resolving the pitch issue is a significant step forward. Restoring large-scale entertainment to the Bernabeu remains the next major objective.
