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E-mail Xinhua, February 11, 2025
Real Madrid travel to Manchester to start arguably the most important week and a half of their season to date with coach Carlo Ancelotti facing an ever-worsening defensive crisis.
Real Madrid was held 1-1 by Atletico Madrid in Saturday's Madrid derby and saw how right-back Lucas Vazquez was added to their injury list for the first leg of their Champions League play-off away to Manchester City on Tuesday.
Vazquez joins long-term absentees, Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal on the injury list, while Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba both suffered muscle injuries last week which means they miss both legs of the play-off for a place in the last-16 of the Champions League.
Vinicius Junior (R) of Real Madrid vies with Carreira of RC Celta during the Copa del Rey (King's Cup) football match between Real Madrid and RC Celta in Madrid, Spain, Jan. 16, 2025. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)
Vazquez's injury means Fede Valverde will have to cover at right back and with Valverde already playing over 3,000 minutes of competitive football this season, he is the one player this season who has neither had a rest nor suffered an injury.
Raul Asencio impressed in central defense against Atletico Madrid on the weekend, but Aurelien Tchouameni continues to look uncomfortable in the back four and committed the penalty which allowed Atletico to open the scoring in the Bernabeu on Saturday.
Ancelotti will be pleased to see Eduardo Camavinga return after injury in the second half on the weekend and the Frenchman should line up in midfield alongside Dani Ceballos, who has been in excellent form recently, while Jude Bellingham will slot in behind Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappe.
Although Real Madrid has defensive worries and will struggle against Erling Haaland, Kevin de Bruyne and Savinho, Manchester City's defensive issues look to be even deeper, as highlighted by recent collapses against Arsenal just over a week ago and the way they caved into a 4-2 defeat away to Paris Saint Germain after leading 2-0 in January.
City coach Pep Guardiola will be happy to have Ruben Dias and John Stones fit, but his side looks very vulnerable on the break - and if there is a team able to counter-attack at pace, that team is Real Madrid.
