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Real Madrid missing five players for Osasuna clash

sportsmole.co.uk, 15 March 2024, 18:29
Real Madrid have been hit with a fresh injury blow ahead of Saturday's La Liga clash with Osasuna, with Dani Ceballos out of the contest due to a muscular problem.

Ceballos, 27, has struggled to break into the Los Blancos side this season, but he has still made 21 appearances in all competitions, including 14 outings in Spain's top flight.

The Spaniard will not be available for this weekend's game against Osasuna, though, missing out due to a muscular issue, and it is unclear how long he will spend on the sidelines.

Ceballos is one of four Real Madrid players currently on the treatment table, with David Alaba, Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao once again missing due to ACL injuries.

However, Los Blancos head coach Carlo Ancelotti has said that both Courtois and Militao could be back for the team's first game after the international break against Athletic Bilbao.

Alaba will not be back until next season, though, having suffered his serious knee injury in December.

Real Madrid will also be without the services of Jude Bellingham on Saturday, with the England international serving the second of a two-game La Liga suspension following his red card against Valencia.

The La Liga leaders were unsuccessful in their attempts to overturn the ban, so Bellingham will be forced to watch on from the sidelines once again the weekend.

Real Madrid are top of the La Liga table, seven points ahead of second-placed Girona, and they will be looking to make it back-to-back wins this weekend following the 4-0 success over Celta Vigo last time out.

Los Blancos will play twice more in the league against Osasuna and Athletic before hosting Manchester City in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the start of next month.

"It's a hugely important game that will demand the best of us, especially going into the international break. We want to finish this part of the season strongly," Ancelotti told reporters during his press conference on Friday.

"We've done pretty well so far and we're heading into the break in a good position. I'm a pretty optimistic guy and we're in better shape than ever.

"We have a lead in La Liga and we're in the Champions League quarter-finals, with Militao and Courtois on the way back. We're in the best shape possible.

"That doesn't mean we can't slip up tomorrow, which we may. We have to be excited about the upcoming games. Right now, we should be happy, satisfied and hungry going into our next matches."

Real Madrid recorded a 4-0 win over Osasuna in the reverse game at Bernabeu earlier this season and have not lost to Saturday's opponents in the league since January 2011.

Real Madrid squad vs. Osasuna:

Lunin, Kepa, Fran; Carvajal, Nacho, Vazquez, F Garcia, Rudiger, Mendy; Kroos, Modric, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni, Guler; Vinicius, Rodrygo, Joselu, Brahim

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