Real Madrid can be more injuries in their backline sick, but that was exactly what happened on Saturday evening, as Antonio Rudiger of a hamstring injury against Espanyol pulled. In addition to the loss that then took place, Los Blancos are now without him for the Madrid Derby and the first stage of the Champions League play-off collision with Manchester City.
Rudiger will try to return to action for the second stage, but is a big doubt. Although Jesus Vallejo is in the team, Carlo Ancelotti will continue to omit him, reducing his options in the position. Rookie Raul Asencio has performed well in his debut senior season, while Aurelien Tchouameni sometimes looked shaky, but in recent months it has often been preferred over alternatives such as Vallejo and Asencio as an improvised central defender.
Then there is the case of David Alaba. Recently returning from 13 months from injured with a serious knee problem, Alaba has taken action again. Ancelotti, as told by Relo, has decided that Alaba can almost start another competition again, but it would certainly be a risk to trust him in two demanding luminaires. So far he has seen 70 minutes of action from the bank about four games.
Alaba is clearly the most proven of the three options he has without rudiger in the backline, but the same exhaust notification that Ancelotti is reluctant to throw him in the deep end against Atletico Madrid and Manchester City. Their plan with Alaba was to go slowly and not to force him in action in advance. Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland play him against people like Antoine Griezmann, and asks for problems, and as such Ancelotti feels forced to go with Asencio and Tchouameni instead of Alaba.
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