Real Madrid defense in tatters as El-Classico approaches
Real Madrid had little trouble in dispatching Osasuna in their last LaLa Ligaame before the international break, running out convincing 4-0 winners. However, the victory came with what is for now a minor black mark but could turn into a serious issue: a yellow card for central defender Antonio Rüdiger.
The German was booked for the fourth time in the nine league matches for a foul on Lucas Torró in the 39th minute but was able to see out the rest of the game without any trouble.
The issue, however, is that a fifth yellow card will see him incur a one-match suspension and there is still one La Liga game to play before El Clásico against Barcelona on October 28.
With Los Blancos struggling for numbers in central defence due to injuries and suspension, they will be praying for Rüdiger to be on his best behaviour when they travel to Sevilla on October 21.
Madrid haven’t given up all hope of having Nacho available for the game in Montjuïc. The club captain was handed a three-match ban for a senseless challenge on Portu in the win over Girona, one of which he served against Osasuna. Los Meregunes have submitted an appeal in an attempt to have the length of the suspension cut but are not especially optimistic, as previously reported by AS. The chances of him playing against Barça, let alone Sevilla, appear to be slim.
David Alaba has missed Real Madrid’s last three matches in all competitions after being forced off in the La Liga clash against Las Palmas on September 27 because of a thigh problem. The former Bayern Munich man was initially called up for international duty by Austria but has returned to Madrid for treatment, managing to do some work on the training field and some in the gym.
If his recovery continues in the same vein, he is likely to be available to play in Sevilla, although whether he will be fully fit is another matter. With Eder Militão set to miss the majority of the season with a torn ACL, coach Carlo Ancelotti doesn’t have the luxury of resting Rüdiger, who has become a key figure at the back. The German has played every minute of every match in all competitions this season, with the exception of the first league fixture against Athletic Club, when he came on for the injured Militão after 40 minutes.
Midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni was the man tasked with filling in at centre-back alongside Rüdiger against Osasuna, with Nacho and Alaba unavailable. Were the former Chelsea defender to see yellow in Seville, or suffer an injury playing for Germany against the USMNT or Mexico, the Frenchman could find himself without a recognised central defender alongside him at the back.
If that happens, compatriot Ferland Mendy, normally a left-back, would likely be drafted in having previously played the role under former manager Zinedine Zidane, albeit in a five-man defence.
The Tchouaméni “experiment” proved to be a success, with the 23-year-old impressing with his ability on the ball (92.2% pass success rate from 83 passes, fewer than only Luka Modric). He also won four aerial duels, made one successful tackle and recovered possession four times, helping his team keep a third successive clean sheet in La Liga
.
“We were very solid at the back, Tchouaméni put in an excellent performance as a central defender for the first time,” raved Ancelotti after the game. The Italian also took the Rüdiger suspension “conundrum” in good humour. “We have not talked about this, I am not going to tell a player to think about the fact he is one yellow card away from a suspension. When he’s given a suspension, we will put someone else in. We have a lot of centre-backs there,” he said, tongue in cheek. “Tchouaméni doesn’t like playing at centre-back, the same as with Camavinga at left-back. But there will come a day when Tchouameni plays as a centre-back and Camavinga as a left-back”.
As it stands, Rüdiger is available to play in Seville and will do so, even if Ancelotti will be tempted to wrap him up in cotton wool ahead of El Clásico. The Italian, and everyone connected with Real Madrid, will be keeping everything crossed to ensure the German is ready to play when one of the biggest games of the season comes around in Barcelona.
