Real Madrid have been rocked by injuries to key defensive personnel ahead of their clash with mid table Getafe at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.
Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Dani Carvajal have not recovered from their injuries and will be unavailable for selection against Getafe.
Los Blancos come into Saturday’s match in the backdrop of their bizarre elimination from the Spanish Copa Del Rey after fielding an ineligible player against lower league club Cadiz. Benitez fielded Russian winger Denis Cheryshev against Cadiz despite the fact that he was serving a suspension after being given a third yellow card in last year’s tournament while on loan at Villarreal. Ironically, Cheryshev scored the opening goal as Real Madrid beat Cadiz 3-1 on the night.
Real Madrid recovered from their Clasico humiliation at the hands of FC Barcelona last week as they recorded a nervy 2-0 win over Eibar. They will be looking build up on that victory when they take on Getafe this week.
Defensive injury crisis for Real Madrid
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Speaking to the media ahead of his side’s La Liga clash on Saturday, Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez gave an injury update on his squad.
“They [Real Madrid squad] are doing well”, said Benitez (via the club’s official website). “They are a team that are used to handling burdens and demand. It is important to get players back because that will allow us to manage the squad better and be competitive until the end”.
Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Dani Carvajal have not recovered from their injuries and will not face Getafe. In some good news for Benitez, Marcelo is back in training and may feature on Saturday.
“We have obtained three consecutive victories and, despite the injuries, we have not lost competitiveness. It is a long road. We are doing better than what many people think and we have to prove that on the pitch in every game”.
On the spate of injuries suffered by his players, Benitez said, “We have seen similar circumstances in other sides around the world and there are many causes. We have been affected by problems that are inherent to an intense season and those that resulted from national teams. That means that players are unable to rest, they over exert themselves, therefore the level of risk increases.”
Spanish midfielder Isco is unavailable for selection as he serves out his 2 match suspension.
Here’s our 19-man squad for Saturday’s match against Getafe. ?Y #RMLiga #HalaMadrid https://t.co/m9cvAhTZn3
a Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) December 4, 2015