Each Actual Madrid and have been going via harm crises in latest months, as they battle to search out their groove. Extra so for Pep Guardiola’s facet, however they’ve acquired main information that would alter their season.
The play-off will see Los Blancos journey to Manchester first to face Metropolis on the Etihad. They are going to be with out Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal, however up to now week have been hit with a double blow that neither for on the very least the primary conflict, and are doubts for the second. That may depart them considerably threadbare in defence, with kids Jacobo Ramon and Raul Asencio competing for a spot.
Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni may additionally drop again into defence, and Fede Valverde has seen sport time at right-back in latest weeks too, though this clearly weakens their midfield. That’s the place all of Manchester Metropolis’s issues started this season, when Rodri Hernandez went down with a cruciate ligament harm. The Spain star might be again earlier than the tip of the season, you’d assume, supplied Metropolis get far sufficient.
Rodri is probably not again in time for his or her conflict with Actual Madrid, however he has been for the Champions League. in midfield, after his €60m transfer from Porto. The previous Barcelona midfielder has been included alongside fellow arrivals Omar Marmoush (€70m) and Abdukodir Khusanov (€40m), who arrived from Eintracht Frankfurt and RC Lens respectively. Their different January signing, Vitor Reis, has been overlooked although.
It’s not clear whether or not Khusanov might be in line for a beginning position, however definitely Marmoush and Nico might be aiming to play towards Los Blancos. Metropolis had been soundly overwhelmed 5-1 by Arsenal final weekend, and face Leyton Orient within the FA Cup this weekend earlier than Los Blancos arrive.