Real Madrid have more than a few injuries to contend with ahead of facing Liverpool at Anfield later this month.
Real Madrid will have to contend with more than a few injuries when they travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in the Champions League later this month.
The story of the two teams could hardly be different this season.
Liverpool have been winning, playing good football, and generally has positive energy associated with Arne Slot’s side at the moment.
For Real Madrid, results have not been going their way and they are currently six points La Liga leaders Barcelona.
There has been plenty of noise around Kylian Mbappe and whether he has improved the side or actually made them worse.
Nevertheless, form and expectations can go out of the window in fixtures like these.
The history between these two European giants is rich with memorable clashes. From the 1981 European Cup final, where Liverpool emerged victorious, to the more recent 2022 Champions League final that saw Real Madrid clinch the title.
The most recent encounter in the 2023 Round of 16 ended in favor of Real Madrid, with a 6-2 aggregate scoreline, leaving Liverpool with a point to prove.
But it seems that Los Blancos could be arriving on Merseyside with a depleted squad.
What is the latest on Real Madrid injuries?
Real Madrid is currently grappling with a series of injuries that have significantly impacted their squad depth.
Aurélien Tchouaméni, who was a target for Liverpool before choosing to join the Spanish club in the summer of 2022, suffered a sprained ankle during the defeat to AC Milan and is expected to be sidelined for approximately a month.
In their recent 4-0 victory over Osasuna, the team faced further setbacks with three additional players sustaining injuries.
Eder Militao experienced a second anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury within 15 months, which is likely to keep the center-back out for the remainder of the season.
Rodrygo was forced to leave the match in the first half due to a thigh injury and is anticipated to be unavailable for about a month. Real Madrid released a statement indicating:
“After the tests carried out today on our player Rodrygo by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the anterior rectus of his left leg.”
Lucas Vázquez, who was substituted at halftime during the Osasuna game, is also expected to be out for a similar duration as Rodrygo.
The right-back had been filling in after Dani Carvajal suffered an ACL tear earlier in the season. The club’s statement noted:
“After the tests carried out today on our player Lucas Vázquez by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the adductor longus of his left leg.”
Additionally, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has missed Real Madrid’s last three matches due to an adductor injury, and David Alaba is continuing his recovery from an ACL injury.
This means that Carlo Ancelotti could be without as much as seven senior players for the clash at Anfield on 27 November.