Valverde uncertain against Man City, panic sets in at Real Madrid

With 48 hours to go before the eagerly-awaited Champions League clash with Manchester City, Real Madrid are facing a worrying situation. Federico Valverde, who suffered persistent discomfort after the match against Osasuna, could miss this decisive encounter. As Madrid prepare to defend their 2-3 first-leg lead, this uncertainty is causing concern among fans and coaching staff alike.

Uruguay midfielder Federico Valverde did not train with the rest of the squad at Valdebebas on Monday. He followed a specific indoor programme alongside Jesús Vallejo, a sign that the medical staff want to take it easy on their player. Carlo Ancelotti remains optimistic, however, that he will take part in Wednesday’s Champions League play-off second leg against Manchester City.

‘Barring any surprises, Valverde should be ready to face City and could play a key role on the right flank in the absence of Carvajal and Lucas Vázquez,’ a source close to the club told the Madrid press. The other major uncertainty concerns Lucas Vázquez, who is still recovering from a muscle injury. Although Ancelotti has announced an imminent return, it seems unlikely that the Spanish full-back will be available for this crucial match. His absence is forcing the Madrid coach to rethink his plans, and Valverde could be the fallback solution as a makeshift right-back if he himself recovers from his injury.

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Defensive reinforcements: Rüdiger and Alaba return

While Real Madrid have to contend with doubts in midfield and defence, there has been some good news to reassure fans: Antonio Rüdiger has been training normally with the squad. The German seems to have recovered from his femoral biceps injury and could return to the starting line-up against Manchester City. Alongside him, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Raul Asencio could start in central defence.

On another positive note, David Alaba has also returned to full training. However, due to his recurrent injury history, his starting place remains uncertain. Ancelotti could opt for a cautious approach to avoid any relapse. With a place in the last 16 at stake, Real Madrid face a number of major uncertainties. The potential absence of Valverde weakens the squad, while the probable unavailability of Lucas Vázquez makes defensive choices even more difficult. The only consolation for Ancelotti is the return of key players such as Rüdiger and Alaba, which could provide further stability.