The Italian gave several clues ahead of the match against Espanyol. Bale drops out of the call at the last minute and Alaba is in danger for City.
The situation
Ancelotti will have to rebuild the defense this Saturday against Espanyol , due to the losses of Nacho, Militao and Alaba ( “I have to put Vallejo and, perhaps, Casemiro as central defenders” ). The first two are out through suspension, but the problem comes with the Austrian, who suffered from his adductor problems in the first leg against City. He was substituted at half-time and the coach was not particularly optimistic about his participation in the second leg against the sky blues : “He had the same problem as in the game against City. I still don’t know if he’ll be able to play. We’ll have to wait until Tuesday”. Clear and concise and Alaba’s non-participation in training this Friday with the rest of his teammates only deflates the balloon of optimism. The Viennese has trained inside the facilities and will be safely out this Saturday against Espanyol (4:15 p.m.). The alirón, if the whites manage to draw at least against the parakeets at the Bernabeu, will have to celebrate without having dressed in shorts. Nor does it seem that Luka Jovic will be able to arrive on time who, although he has touched the ball on the Valdebebas pitch, has done so alone. Hazard, for his part, continues his recovery process after the removal in March of the titanium plate that tormented his confidence.
Possible eleven of Madrid against Espanyol
In fact, the Italian coach has left some statements from which a possible eleven can be extracted where rotations will prevail. “We are talking about eleven. We have problems in defense. I don’t have Alaba, Nacho or Militao. I have to put Vallejo who has played very little, he has always been a professional. I have to put a central defender who, perhaps, could be Casemiro . In midfield I have a fresh player like Camavinga . Also Ceballos . Up front I have to choose. Asensio is fresh. We also have to see if Karim is fully recovered. I’m going to put a team in to win the game . I have to be honest”, said the Reggiolo coach, sincere.