Real Madrid: Injury Crisis Hits Ahead of Alavés Clash

As Real Madrid prepares for their upcoming match against Alavés, the squad is grappling with a significant injury crisis that could impact their performance on the pitch. With key players sidelined, manager Xabi Alonso faces an uphill battle as he tries to assemble a competitive lineup. The absence of Éder Militão until April and David Alaba, who remains unavailable, leaves the defense in disarray. Compounding the situation, Carreras and Fran García are suspended, while Ferland Mendy, Dani Carvajal, and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all nursing injuries.

In this dire context, Raúl Asencio stands as the only confirmed defender fit to play, with Dean Huijsen still uncertain after returning to collective training. The situation is equally bleak on the flanks, as there are no available natural left-backs and limited options on the right side. COPE reports that Antonio Rüdiger and Eduardo Camavinga are also likely to miss out due to injury concerns. This leaves Alonso with minimal flexibility in his defensive setup.

Defensive Reconfiguration Challenges

The prospect of reshaping the defense by utilizing midfielders now seems nearly impossible with Camavinga’s physical condition still in question. Federico Valverde is also facing potential absence due to a muscle overload, restricting him to gym work rather than full training. If Valverde were to be called upon, he would not be at full capacity, making his role as a makeshift right-back less than ideal—a position he has never truly favored.

Looking Towards Castilla for Solutions

In light of these challenges, there’s increasing speculation about turning to Real Madrid Castilla for reinforcements. The coaching staff is reportedly monitoring several players from the youth team closely, considering their integration into the first team as an urgent necessity. Joan Martínez emerges as a credible option to bolster the squad in a backup role despite lacking La Liga experience. Diego Aguado is set to travel to Japan with Spain’s U19 team this weekend, while names like David Jiménez and Jesús Fortea from Castilla have been mentioned frequently as potential candidates for immediate deployment.

Jiménez appears to be the most ready for an elevation to the first team due to his maturity, while Fortea represents a longer-term solution following his recent recovery from injury. The most plausible call-up might be Victor Valdepenas, who was included in the squad against Manchester City and can play both central defender and left-back roles. Engaging these young talents seems essential given the looming risk of relying on players out of position or those not fully fit.

As Real Madrid heads into this critical match against Alavés amidst such turmoil, they may have no choice but to embrace this risk-filled approach. In what seems like chaos, opportunities for unexpected solutions may arise—it’s now up to Xabi Alonso to transform this extreme constraint into a strategic advantage rather than allowing it to become a breaking point.