Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Indonesia
Nigeria

Real Madrid handed double injury boost for Shakhtar Donetsk clash

sportsmole.co.uk, 4 October 2022, 19:21
Real Madrid have been boosted by the returns of Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez to their squad for Wednesday's Champions League clash with Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk.

Modric was absent against Osasuna in La Liga at the weekend due to a muscular problem, but Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti said last week that the issue was 'not very serious'.

The experienced midfielder returned to training on Monday and has been included in the squad for the European contest with Shakhtar.

Meanwhile, there is also a return for Vazquez, who has been sidelined with a muscular problem since the contest with Mallorca on September 11.

"The idea is to see if he can be there on Wednesday and then Saturday. Same idea as with Modric," Ancelotti told reporters when questioned ahead of the league game with Osasuna.

Vazquez is yet to feature in the Champions League this season, but he has played four times in La Liga and scored on the opening weekend of the campaign against Almeria.

Real Madrid are missing two first-team players for the European contest, though, with Thibaut Courtois sidelined due to an ongoing back problem.

Courtois missed out against Osasuna due to an issue with his sciatic nerve, and Ancelotti said ahead of this match that the Belgium international was also a doubt for the weekend clash with Getafe.

Dani Ceballos, who played 53 minutes of the 1-1 league draw with Jagoba Arrasate's side, is also out of the contest with Shakhtar due to a hamstring problem.

"We're without Courtois still, and he'll also be doubtful for Getafe on Saturday, and we're without Dani Ceballos too, due to a hamstring issue, but Luka Modric and Lucas Vazquez are back. I'm still not sure if Modric will start the match, though," Ancelotti told reporters ahead of the match.

Lucas Canizares is the player to benefit from Courtois's absence, with the 20-year-old being included in the squad alongside Andriy Lunin and Luis Lopez in the goalkeeping department.

Jesus Vallejo and Alvaro Odriozola have both had their injury problems in the early stages of this season, but the pair are also in the selection for this contest.

There had been a doubt over Eduardo Camavinga when the midfielder missed Monday's training session, but the Frenchman is also in the squad and will be battling for a starting role on Wednesday night.

Real Madrid squad vs. Shakhtar:

Lunin, Luis Lopez, Canizares; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Vallejo, Nacho, Odriozola, Rudiger, Mendy; Kroos, Modric, Camavinga, Valverde, Vazquez., Tchouameni; Hazard, Benzema, Asensio, Vinicius., Rodrygo, Mariano

Top News

26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has said that he has "a lot of sympathy" for Marcus Rashford amid the forward's struggles for form during the 2023-24 campaign. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola is hoping that the excitement of Manchester City's Premier League title challenge will help his squad deal with fatigue in the final few weeks of the campaign. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are prepared to welcome Jurrien Timber back to the first-team fold in time for Sunday's North London derby with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal Women will attempt to claim a fourth consecutive Women's Super League victory when they travel to Walton Hall Park for Sunday's meeting with Everton Ladies. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are set to be boosted by the return of Richarlison for their North London derby clash with Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp has seemingly endorsed Arne Slot's arrival at Anfield as his successor. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Looking to take the next step towards their first Premier League title in two decades, Arsenal will make the short trip across the capital to face fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby on Sunday afternoon at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bottom of Ligue 1 Clermont Foot will be desperate for victory when they face Stade de Reims on Sunday afternoon with the hosts staring down the barrel of relegation. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that Cole Palmer should be in a position to feature against Aston Villa on Saturday evening. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A crucial North London derby headlines gameweek 35 as Arsenal aim to keep their noses in front of Manchester City when they make the short trip to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The latest instalment of the Seville derby will take place at Estadio Benito Villamarin on Sunday evening, with European-chasing Real Betis welcoming an in-form Sevilla. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both heading for mid-table in the Premier League standings, Bournemouth host Brighton & Hove Albion at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday afternoon. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Rayo Vallecano will be bidding to ease any lingering relegation fears when they continue their La Liga campaign away to European hopefuls Villarreal on Sunday evening. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea will be looking to extend a 34-year streak when they square off against Aston Villa in the Premier League. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two Premier League teams seeking to return to winning ways do battle at the London Stadium on Saturday lunchtime as top-six contenders West Ham United play host to title hopefuls Liverpool. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nuevo Mirandilla will play host to a huge La Liga clash on Sunday afternoon, with two clubs battling to stay in Spain's top flight, Cadiz and Mallorca, locking horns. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk John O'Shea has been retained as interim head coach of Republic of Ireland for a further two matches. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Erling Haaland is currently Manchester City's only injury doubt for Sunday's Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk One of the most important North London derbies in recent memory will take place on Sunday afternoon, with title-challenging Arsenal heading to top-four hopefuls Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lorient play host to Toulouse on Sunday afternoon looking for the win that could move them outside of the Ligue 1 relegation zone. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City will be bidding to make it five straight wins in the Premier League when they head to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City square off against Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon looking to keep their Premier League title bid in their own hands. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will be be bidding to bounce back from successive defeats when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Valencia on Monday night. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The majority of Chelsea's first-team squad would allegedly prefer for Mauricio Pochettino to remain as head coach next season. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City have reportedly learned that it will take £60m to sign either Michael Olise or Eberechi Eze this summer. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are allegedly interested in signing Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica will be looking to move within four points of Sporting Lisbon at the top of the Primeira Liga table when they welcome Braga to the Estadio da Luz on Saturday. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Vitoria de Guimaraes will be looking to snap their three-match winless run and resume their push for European football when they play host to Boavista in round 31 of the Primeira Liga on Saturday. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 26 April 2024 sportsmole.co.uk St Johnstone and Hibernian renew acquaintances for the second time in three weeks when they square off at McDiarmid Park in round 34 of the Premiership on Saturday.