The Spanish giant, Real Madrid have a number of injury concerns heading into Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg tie with Chelsea.
The two sides played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg in
Spain, Karim Benzema equalizing after a goal from Christian Pulisic, though the
American winger’s first-half strike gives Chelsea an away goal to protect at
Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s lead is a slender one, especially against a club
that has won the Champions League four seasons out of the last eight,
dominating this competition.
Though,
Los Blancos face an uphill battle at Stamford Bridge due to a number of injury
concerns that only grew on Saturday when they beat Osasuna in La Liga.
Centre-back
Raphael Varane suffered from muscular discomfort during the first half, forcing
Zinedine Zidane into a substitution just after the break.
Tests
will reveal the extent of that injury, while Real Madrid are also waiting to
find out whether they will get Federico Valverde back after the midfielder
contracted coronavirus, forcing him to miss the first leg.
Zidane
already knows he is without Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez, who have been
ruled out until the end of the season with respective injuries.
But
it’s not all bad news with Real Madrid potentially being able to call upon
Marcelo, despite doubts over whether the Brazilian could play.
Marcelo
was called to serve at an election centre on Tuesday, and while Real Madrid
cannot get him out of his civic duty as a Spanish citizen, they may well be
able to get him to London on a private jet on Wednesday morning to make him
available for the tie.
Sergio
Ramos and Ferland Mendy, who have both struggled with injury this month, could
also return, both returning to individual training, and indeed a touch of group
training ahead of Wednesday with Los Blancos hoping they can feature.
Eden
Hazard is also fit to play, coming through a start against Osasuna on Saturday
unscathed following recent injury issues.
No comments