Madrid, Real Madrid will definitely be without Ferland Mendy for the Clasico against Barcelona on Sunday night, with the left-back suffering a small tear in his adductor, although Carlo Ancelotti is still facing a nervous wait over Karim Benzema’s physical fitness ahead of the clash at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid.
Ancelotti was able to utilise Nacho Fernandez as a left-back in the dramatic 3-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), so the Italian does have an option to replace Mendy in the Barcelona clash.
Benzema, though, is a little harder to replace with the team lacking any significant firepower through the centre without him.
Luka Jovic hasn’t been a reliable understudy to the French forward, and the medical tests for Benzema that are scheduled for Friday are causing an anxious wait within Valdebebas.
If Benzema is able to play then it will be the usual system for Los Blancos, but if he is out then there will be a system change.
Eden Hazard, Gareth Bale and Mariano Diaz are in line to deputise as auxiliary centre-forwards, but none of these options will fill fans with confidence going into a Clasico.
Rodrygo Goes’ foot injury isn’t as serious as first feared with the Brazilian not suffering any bone damage, and he will be readily available to start against the Blaugrana.
Eder Militao returned to training today, with the defender having missed the trip to Mallorca with illness, the Spanish MARCA newspaper reported.
Source: Oman News Agency
