Real Madrid: Injury Crisis Deepens Ahead of Alavés Clash

Real Madrid is facing a significant injury crisis as they prepare for their LaLiga clash against Alavés this Sunday, with up to 12 players potentially sidelined. The situation has been exacerbated by the uncertainty surrounding Kylian Mbappé, who recently returned to training but remains doubtful for the match. The French forward missed Wednesday’s Champions League defeat to Manchester City due to knee discomfort experienced during last weekend’s encounter against Celta at the Santiago Bernabéu. Additionally, he is dealing with a broken finger, making his participation against Alavés appear increasingly unlikely.

Sources indicate that while Mbappé has not yet been ruled out completely, his chances of traveling to Vitoria hinge on improvements in his knee condition. Madrid’s defensive lineup will be severely impacted, as they will also be without key players such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy, and Éder Militão due to injuries. Furthermore, Álvaro Carreras and Fran García are suspended, leaving coach Xabi Alonso without any first-team full-backs to choose from for this critical fixture.

Squad Limitations and Tactical Adjustments

The absence of several key players forces Alonso to rethink his tactical approach. Homegrown talent Víctor Valdepeñas is expected to be called up to fill the void left by the missing full-backs. In addition to Mbappé, midfielders Eduardo Camavinga and Fede Valverde are also listed as doubtful for the match, alongside defender Antonio Rüdiger and young prospect Dean Huijsen. This injury crisis comes at a crucial time for Madrid, who find themselves trailing arch-rivals Barcelona by four points in the LaLiga standings.

Pressure Mounts on Xabi Alonso

Alonso’s position is under scrutiny as Real Madrid has managed just one victory in their last five league matches. The mounting pressure could lead to significant changes within the club if results do not improve soon. As they prepare for Sunday’s encounter, the team must find a way to overcome these challenges and secure a much-needed victory against Alavés to reignite their title ambitions.

This situation raises questions about how Madrid will cope with such a depleted squad and whether they can rally together in the face of adversity. With fans eagerly awaiting updates on Mbappé’s condition and the team’s performance, all eyes will be on Vitoria this weekend. Can Real Madrid rise to the occasion despite their injury woes?