Real Madrid faced another setback as defender Lucas Vazquez joined the growing list of injured players, dealing a blow ahead of their Copa del Rey clash against Arandina on Saturday and the upcoming Spanish Supercup in Saudi Arabia. Vazquez's muscle injury in the semitendinosus muscle of his right thigh was confirmed after tests conducted by the Real Madrid Medical Services. The club's website stated that his progress would be closely monitored, but no specific return date was provided.
This unfortunate injury adds to Real Madrid's defensive woes, with Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao, David Alaba, and Ferland Mendy already sidelined. The defensive nature of these injuries poses a challenge for coach Ancelotti, restricting his options for rotating players during a demanding period featuring League, Cup, and Supercup competitions, preceding the return of the Champions League in February.
Carlo Ancelotti now relies on the fitness of Nacho Fernandez, Dani Carvajal, Fran Garcia, and Antonio Rudiger as the only available specialist defenders. In a recent match against Mallorca, Aurelien Tchouameni was forced to play as a makeshift central defender due to the limited defensive resources.
On the other side of the rivalry, FC Barcelona confirmed that full-back Joao Cancelo suffered a strained medial collateral ligament in his left knee during their narrow victory in Las Palmas on Thursday. While Barcelona did not specify the return date, Cancelo is expected to miss the Supercup as well, adding to the challenges faced by the team.
(With Agency Inputs)
Read also| West Ham Derail Arsenal's Bid for Top Spot with Derby Win in the Premier League
