Real Madrid News
Rival Watch: Injury woes mount for Barcelona as defender set to miss El Clasico
Real Madrid’s recent draw to CA Osasuna saw them surrender the top spot in La Liga to arch-rivals FC Barcelona. However, the reigning Spanish champions will have the time to turn things around as they are set to meet Barça in less than a fortnight, in the revered El Clasico.
Barcelona are heading into the game with a few long-term injuries including Ronald Araujo and Memphis Depay. The likes of Hector Bellerin, Jules Kounde and Frenkie de Jong are also on their list of absentees.
And in the aftermath of their recent Champions League defeat to Inter Milan, it appears the Catalans have another player adding to their lost list, in the form of Andreas Christensen.
According to a report from Diario AS, the Danish international had left Giuseppe Meazza with a limp on his left ankle. It was later revealed that the player had suffered a sprain in the external ligament.
Initial reports suggest the defender has sprained his ankle, which could keep him out for a month. But depending on the injury of the ligament, there is a possibility the defender could miss out on the World Cup as well. Tests are set to be carried out on Wednesday to determine the extent of the injury.
In either case, Christensen will be ruled out for the upcoming El Clasico, leaving Xavi Hernandez without four of his trusted defensive options.
In fact, Barça may have Eric Garcia and Gerard Pique as the only two options at centre-back, when they take on Real Madrid later this month. Jules Kounde is expected to be fit in time for the game, but his involvement is still under doubt a week and a half ahead of the game.
It should serve as a major boost for Real Madrid, who have recently welcomed back Karim Benzema to the pitch. The Frenchman should provide the added attacking firepower required to help Los Blancos brush aside a depleted Barcelona defence, in this much-awaited Clasico.
The current edition of the Real Madrid squad is full of young talents, who have shown remarkable potential in recent years.
Arda Guler is among the young players looking to make a mark in European football in the years to come.
The young Turk joined Real Madrid earlier this summer, rejecting many other European giants in the process.
Toni Kroos mentoring Guler at Real Madrid
Guler has not enjoyed the best of starts to his life at Santiago Bernabeu, as he is spending a brief time on the sidelines due to an injury.
However, Guler has not stopped working on his characteristics, as he looks to kickstart his Real Madrid career on a positive note.
To that end, the former Fenerbahce starlet is receiving some key support from one of Real Madrid’s midfield pillars in the form of Toni Kroos.
This is according to MARCA, which suggests that the German international is mentoring Guler in his early days at Santiago Bernabeu.
Kroos: huge ‘sponsor’ of Guler
The report highlights how Toni Kroos is a huge admirer of Arda Guler. The German had even heaped praise on the youngster from Turkey when he joined the club earlier in the summer.
Guler, therefore, is closely training with Kroos, whose years of experience, composure, and knowledge of football, could help the youngster grow at Santiago Bernabeu.
This fits in well with Carlo Ancelotti’s vision at Real Madrid, as the Italian boss wants youngsters to have room to grow, especially with guidance from some of the older guards in the team.
It is one of the key reasons Real Madrid wanted to stick to Kroos and Luka Modric, despite bringing in Arda Guler and Jude Bellingham in the summer.
Guler, therefore, has the stage set for him to start his Real Madrid career on a strong note. After impressing in training, the next step for the youngster is to make a promising debut, which is just around the corner.
