Real Madrid face CB injury crisis before Girona showdown،
Antonio Rüdiger has injured his thigh, Real Madrid confirmed on Saturday, leaving the La Liga giants without a fit centre-back for their top-of-the-table clash against Girona, and ahead of their return to Champions League action next week.
Madrid host Girona at the Bernabéu on Saturday with just two points separating the two teams at the top of La Liga, before traveling to RB Leipzig in the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday.
– Stream LIVE: Real Madrid vs Girona at 12:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+ (US)
The league leaders are already without first-choice defenders Éder Militão and David Alaba, who suffered ACL tears in August and December respectively, while Nacho Fernandez is unavailable due to a pulled muscle.
“Following the examinations carried out today on our player Antonio Rudiger by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he was diagnosed with a muscular injury in the vastus lateralis of the left thigh,” Real Madrid said in a press release on Saturday. . “His progress is pending.”
Rudiger was injured during a challenge with Getafe striker Mason Greenwood on February 1, although the issue was initially dismissed as a knock.
On Friday, coach Carlo Ancelotti said Rudiger would undergo a late fitness test to determine his availability against Girona.
“Rudiger trained today for the first time and he felt good,” Ancelotti told a press conference. “Tomorrow we have time for another test. If he feels good, at his best, he will play, and if he doesn't, we won't take a risk.”
Ancelotti added that he expected club captain Nacho to be “well” for the Leipzig match on Tuesday.
Full-back Dani Carvajal replaced the centre-back against Atletico Madrid last weekend, and Ancelotti said he would start alongside midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni in a makeshift back line against Girona in the absence of Rudiger.
Madrid have overcome a series of injury problems this season – with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois also suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in August and star striker Vinícius Júnior out for more than two months with hamstring problems – to dominate the La Liga standings.
