Real Madrid News
Real Madrid plan to name two academy starlets in squad for Union Berlin clash – report
After making a perfect start to the 2023/24 campaign in La Liga, Real Madrid will aim to carry that form forward into the UEFA Champions League.
Los Blancos will kickstart their European journey later this week when they take on Bundesliga club Union Berlin at the Santiago Bernabeu.
It promises to be an interesting clash, pitting the most successful team in the competition against a club making their debut at the biggest stage in Europe.
Real Madrid will call up Nico Paz, Gonzalo Garcia
Real Madrid go into the game with some injury-enforced absentees in Vinicius Jr, Eder Militao, and Thibaut Courtois. Furthermore, it is also unclear if Ferland Mendy is 100% ready for a return.
Given the absentees, Carlo Ancelotti is likely to dip into the club’s reserves for bench strength for the upcoming game against Union Berlin.
As such, Jorge C Picon is reporting that Real Madrid plan on calling up academy prospects Nico Paz and Gonzalo Garcia to the squad for the Champions League clash on Wednesday.
Both Nico and Gonzalo are part of the Merengues’ Champions League squad, as part of the B List.
Impressing for RM Castilla
The pair have been in impressive form for Real Madrid’s Castilla team under club legend Raul Gonzalez.
Indeed, Nico Paz has already scored four goals and set up one more in four matches this season while Gonzalo has two goals in three matches.
Nico, 18, has been in the matchday squad for the first team in the last four games while Gonzalo, 19, has also been named by Ancelotti in the last two clashes following the injury to Vinicius Jr.
And, as per Jorge C Picon, the trend will likely continue when Los Blancos face Union Berlin at the Bernabeu in a couple of days.
There just does not appear to be any respite from injuries for Real Madrid.
Just when it appeared that they were close to having their full squad – barring the two long-term absentees – the Merengues have been struck down by fresh injuries this week.
Arda Guler, who was on the cusp of being named in the squad for the Las Palmas clash, injured himself in training on Tuesday.
And now, during the game against Las Palmas at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid have lost key defender David Alaba to an injury.
Close to the 40th-minute mark, Alaba went down on the ground clutching his leg and appeared to be in quite a bit of discomfort.
Soon enough, the medical staff arrived to take a look at the Austrian and seconds later he was off the pitch and straight towards the tunnel.
Lucas Vazquez came on to replace the injured Alaba, with Nacho Fernandez moving into the centre-back position alongside Antonio Rudiger.
Alaba’s injury leaves Carlo Ancelotti with just two fit centre-backs in Rudiger and Nacho, which is set to be a matter of great concern.
The hope will be that Alaba’s condition is nothing serious and that he is able to mount a quick recovery.
