Real Madrid has to deal with selection headache again after the loss of Dani Ceballos on Wednesday evening in their Copa del Rey Semi-final against Real Sociedad. However, they also sweat on the fitness of another important player for their Champions League Derby against Atletico Madrid.
On Thursday, Kylian Mbappe returned to the training after he had missed in Anoeta because of the pain of surgery to remove his tooth. His presence for their La Liga collision against Real Betis this weekend is not questioning. Ceballos will be absent against his former club, which is excluded for two months, and Carlo Ancelotti will now have to choose from Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga and Fede Valverde as partner Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield.
However, Valverde's fitness is also a question mark. The Uruguayan had had muscle development for several weeks and hit the breaking point against Osasuna in their 1-1 draw in El Sadar. He then underwent pain -relieving injections to be against Manchester City to help Real Madrid, with Lucas Vazquez at the time also out of effect.
That is why it was planned that he would rest against Girona and real Sociedad during the weekend, and not traveling as such. Relo says that he is still a 'serious doubt' to play with the Benito Villamarin, and his presence is not sure against Atletico Madrid in the first stage of their Champions League Derby collision in the Santiago Bernabeu. The 26-year-old now hurries to be back in time for the capital.
If he knows Valverde's dedication to the cause, it would certainly be a surprise if he was not present against Atletico. It seemed as if Ancelotti had found an answer to their problems in the right back with Valverde, because Vazquez had consistently struggled. Whether it is in midfield or the defense, the absence of Valverde would be felt sharp, with Jude Bellingham, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal and now Ceballos.
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