Significant Absences for Real Madrid in the Champions League Clash
Real Madrid faces a significant challenge in the Champions League with notable absences. Thibaut Courtois and Dean Huijsen were not included in the squad for the match against Olympiacos. Huijsen’s absence leaves the team with only one central defender available for this crucial European match. The team and coach Xabi Alonso are under pressure after failing to achieve victory in their last three matches, including draws against Elche and Rayo Vallecano, and a defeat against Liverpool earlier this month. In addition to the already known absences of Éder Militão, due to pubic problems, and Antonio Rüdiger, who has not yet fully recovered, Huijsen is also out, having had to leave Tuesday’s training, leaving Alonso with only one option in central defense, Raúl Asencio. Goalkeeper Courtois, one of Madrid’s most outstanding players this season, is suffering from gastroenteritis, the club reported on Tuesday. Dani Carvajal and Franco Mastantuono are also currently injured, although Aurélien Tchouaméni returned to the squad for the match against Olympiacos after three weeks out. Real Madrid leads LaLiga and has nine points in the Champions League, but the defeat at Anfield on November 4th triggered a decline in performance, which has put the team selection, tactics, and coach Alonso’s relationship with his players under scrutiny.The relationship with the players is “improving, because we have spent more time together”. The team now “has to respond to adversity”, starting with the match against Olympiacos.
Xabi Alonso
