Double Actual Madrid damage blow earlier than Arsenal 2nd leg
Actual Madrid are going through recent damage setbacks forward of the Champions League second leg towards Arsenal, with key absences confirmed and doubts looming.
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within the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final could but face a sterner problem within the return leg, however Carlo Ancelotti‘s choices are narrowing.
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Following Tuesday’s recreation, Madrid now face new availability considerations with two key updates on gamers forward of the second leg.
Essentially the most vital confirmed absentee is Eduardo Camavinga, who obtained a yellow card within the 69th minute and was despatched off for kicking the ball away within the 94th. His purple card suspension guidelines him out of the second leg. The primary yellow was additionally sufficient to do this.
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However as reported on Thursday, the state of affairs surrounding others is turning into clearer, and bleaker.
Regardless of early optimism that Ferland Mendy and Dani Ceballos would recuperate in time to characteristic, AS confirms that Mendy has been definitively dominated out of the second leg.
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The left-back suffered a hamstring damage and won’t be out there for Wednesday’s conflict on the Santiago Bernabéu.
Mendy, out for the second leg; and for Ceballos, nearly unimaginable – AS 10 April 2025
In the meantime, hopes that former Arsenal midfielder Dani Ceballos would possibly return are additionally fading. Whereas he has resumed coaching and even participated in a light-weight session this week, the membership now views his participation towards Arsenal as “nearly unimaginable,” in keeping with AS.
Ancelotti had initially hoped to have Ceballos again within the squad after he missed the primary leg, however his physique has reportedly not responded as anticipated.
This restricts Madrid’s midfield depth, particularly with Camavinga suspended and ongoing doubts over Federico Valverde, who .
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Valverde, together with David Alaba, is present process additional evaluation. Although neither are believed to have suffered critical accidents, their health for the second leg stays unsure.
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One shiny spot for Actual Madrid is the return of Aurélien Tchouaméni, who was suspended for the primary leg however might be eligible to characteristic subsequent week. It stays to be seen whether or not Ancelotti will decide to begin him alongside 39-year-old Luka Modrić, .
Elsewhere, goalkeeper Andriy Lunin is again in full coaching following soleus muscle points and will take his place on the bench.
Regardless of their dominant place, Mikel Arteta and his facet are taking nothing with no consideration. Madrid could also be bruised, depleted, and reeling, however as historical past has proven repeatedly, the Champions League is a contest that hardly ever permits for complacency, least of all towards Actual Madrid in their very own yard.