After securing a 3-2 victory at the Etihad Stadium earlier this week, Real Madrid has firmly positioned themselves as the favorites to advance past Manchester City in the Champions League play-off round. The second leg of the tie is scheduled for Wednesday evening at the Santiago Bernabeu, where the defending champions aim to seal their spot in the last 16 of the competition. But ahead of the much anticipated clash, Real Madrid have been dealt with a severe blow.
Lucas Vazquez injury leaves a hole in Real Madrid's defense
Lucas Vazquez, the 33-year-old right-back was initially sidelined due to a hamstring injury before the first leg at the Etihad Stadium, and despite hopes of his recovery for the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, he remains unavailable.
Vazquez was ruled out for the first leg in Manchester and had been expected to return for the crucial home fixture at the Bernabeu. Unfortunately, those expectations have not come out to be true.
Defensive setbacks do not deter Real Madrid
Real Madrid's impressive win in Manchester was particularly remarkable given that the team was missing key defenders. Both Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba were sidelined due to muscular injuries sustained in recent weeks.
Despite their absences, reports from Diario AS indicate that both players have recovered and are expected to be included in Carlo Ancelotti’s matchday squad for the second leg.
Federico Valverde will play at right-back
With Vazquez unavailable, Ancelotti is expected to rely on Federico Valverde at right-back once again. Valverde, though a midfielder by trade, has proven to be a more dependable defensive option than Vazquez, making him a likely starter for the second leg. While Valverde’s presence in defense strengthens the team, his absence from midfield is undeniably a setback for the team’s balance.
When will Lucas Vazquez’s make his return to the field?
Looking ahead, the availability of Vazquez for next weekend’s La Liga clash against Girona remains uncertain. As of now, he is doubtful for that match, with Real Madrid fans hoping for a speedy recovery before their next domestic challenge.