Real Madrid News
Real Madrid could be without as many as six players for Real Sociedad clash – report
Real Madrid secured a huge victory over neighbours Atletico Madrid last night, defeating them 3-1 to qualify for the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
However, it came at some cost as two players – Ferland Mendy and Rodrygo Goes – picked up injuries during the match and had to be taken off.
With a crucial fixture against Real Sociedad coming up on Sunday, Carlo Ancelotti & co. are now sweating over the fitness of the duo, as well as several other important players.
David Alaba, for one, seemed to have recovered from his injury and trained with the team this week. In fact, the Austrian was also named in the matchday squad for the Atletico clash, with Ancelotti even claiming on the eve of the game that the defender would play.
However, just hours before the game, Real Madrid confirmed that the former Bayern Munich man would not be involved. While the reason for his last-minute withdrawal was not made clear, his involvement in Sunday’s clash against Sociedad is a doubt.
This claim comes from journalist Arancha Rodriguez of COPE, who states that Alaba, as well as Aurelien Tchouameni, are both in the final stretch of their respective recoveries. However, they remain doubts for Sunday’s encounter at the Bernabeu.
As for the injuries to Mendy and Rodrygo, the journalist claims that the former has a problem in his left thigh and is unlikely to be back in time for the Real Sociedad clash on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Rodrygo is said to have picked up an injury to his tibia and will be subjected to tests later today to determine the extent of it. Depending on how the results come out, the Brazilian may or may not be ready for the weekend encounter.
Furthermore, Dani Carvajal, who has not played a game since the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona, continues to be a doubt due to a muscular problem. Fellow right-back Lucas Vazquez, on the other hand, is a guaranteed absentee for the Merengues.
Depending on how things go over the next 48 hours, Real Madrid could have as many as six absentees for the Real Sociedad clash. La Real are third in the La Liga table, just three points shy of Ancelotti’s side and have won nine of their last ten games in all competitions.
So, facing them will be a huge challenge and doing so with numerous injury-enforced absentees would only make it harder for Real Madrid.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid locker room angry with Barcelona midfielder’s ‘unsportsmanlike’ behaviour – report
While the evident frustration among the Real Madrid players was quite visible following the recent 1-2 defeat against Barcelona, the feeling of vexation was not really limited on the field.
Journalist Mario Cortegana, while writing for The Athletic, has confirmed that once the players got into the dressing room, the environment had an air of anger and frustration.
Players from each team had a go at each other right till the end, especially the likes of Dani Carvajal and Arnau Tenas, who had to be separated by several members from both teams.
Interestingly, before the aforementioned incident, Barcelona midfielder Gavi was already causing some trouble on the field. The youngster did not shy away from putting his body on the line throughout the game and it annoyed Madrid players to the extreme.
First, he pushed Carvajal in one incident and after that, he entangled himself in an off-the-ball clash with Dani Ceballos. The Madrid midfielder first had a collision with Robert Lewandowski and as the game moved on, Gavi made note of the incident.
During the run of play, Gavi pushed Ceballos with his shoulder and it did not settle well with the Madrid players and manager Carlo Ancelotti. The players and the manager were disturbed by Gavi’s behaviour and considered it ‘unsportsmanlike’.
On the other hand, there was frustration involving refereeing decisions as well. It must be remembered that in the 82nd minute, Marco Asensio found the back of the net to send the Madrid fans into a frenzy.
The celebration, however, was cut short as VAR disallowed the goal for an extremely tight offside. “We are sad, frustrated,” a dressing room source told The Athletic. “What happened? A guy looking at a TV in Madrid has decided La Liga.”
Ancelotti, on his part, said: “The disallowed goal? I don’t know, I really don’t know. I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know. I’m leaving with this doubt. If the VAR is sure.”
“I leave this match very proud. I don’t think we deserved to lose today,” he added.
