Real Madrid News
Real Madrid quartet set to miss Valladolid encounter on Friday – report
Real Madrid are all set to return to La Liga action this Friday when they lock horns with Real Valladolid away from home at Estadio Jose Zorrilla.
Having picked up just one victory in their last three league encounters, Los Blancos will be eager to restart the campaign on a winning note and reclaim the top spot in the table from arch-rivals Barcelona.
Leading up to the game, journalist Arancha Rodriguez has provided an update regarding the squad that Carlo Ancelotti will have at his disposal for the trip to Valladolid.
And as per the update, Los Blancos are likely to be without the quartet of Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Mariano Diaz for the upcoming fixture on Friday. The manager will have the rest of the squad at his disposal for the game.
The trio of Modric, Camavinga and Tchouameni were expected to be back in training today following their deep runs in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Modric’s Croatia finished third in the tournament while Tchouameni and Camavinga lost in the final against champions Argentina.
However, as per the latest updates from Sergio Quirante, the trio will be rejoining training only tomorrow, just a day before the Valladolid game. That effectively rules them out from the contest against Valladolid.
As for Mariano, the out-of-favour striker did not train with the team yesterday and today after picking up a blow to his ankle. And he is unlikely to recover in time for the trip to Valladolid.
The absence of three midfielders in Modric, Camavinga, and Tchouameni means that Ancelotti could call upon Dani Ceballos’ services against Valladolid.
Mariano’s unavailability is unlikely to have much of an impact considering he is hardly a regular in the manager’s plans. Karim Benzema, who is super motivated after his World Cup ordeal, will likely be leading the line for Real Madrid on Friday.
As Real Madrid look to restart the campaign following the end of the international break, all focus will be on the upcoming El Clasico in Copa del Rey on April 5.
However, before they take on their arch-rivals for a fourth time this year, Real Madrid must see off the challenge from Real Valladolid in La Liga on Sunday.
Given Barcelona’s 12-point advantage at the top of the table, La Liga appears to be a lost cause for Real Madrid right now. But that is no excuse for Carlo Ancelotti’s men to appear complacent, as they look to push for a late title charge.
However, heading into this contest, three Real Madrid players proceed with caution as they are running the risk of missing out on the next league game against Villarreal due to yellow cards.
The three players in question are Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Carvajal, and Dani Ceballos. All three of these players have picked up four yellow cards in La Liga this term. Therefore, picking up another booking against Valladolid will rule them out in the next game.
Camavinga, in particular, has been a vital part of the Real Madrid squad since the turn of the year, impressing onlookers with his performances and versatility.
Carvajal, too, is a critical option at right-back and his experience could go a long way in helping Real Madrid end the league campaign on a positive note. Not to mention, the club lack the services of a reliable alternative, which has led to links with Reece James this coming summer.
Ceballos, on the other hand, has been one of the emerging stars this year. The midfielder’s performances have been excellent lately, and he would not want to lose any momentum by picking up a suspension ahead of the important Villarreal game next week.
