Five Real Madrid players to miss Copa del Rey clash against Arandina

Real Madrid will begin their Copa del Rey title defense with a Round of 32 clash against Arandina at Estadio El Montecillo on Saturday and Carlo Ancelotti will be without five key players.

Los Blancos won the Copa del Rey in May 2023 after beating Osasuna 2-1 for the first time since 2014 and only the third time in this century courtesy of a brace from Rodrygo and they would look to win it for successive years for the first time in last 42 years.

Ancelotti will be missing five key players for the clash, although the Whites will play a relatively weak side, they cannot rule an upset out as they have had a history of having trouble against weaker sides in the recent past.

Toni Kroos (Ankle discomfort), Aurelien Tchouameni (Rested), Vinicius Jr. (Recovery), Ferland Mendy (Recovery), and Lucas Vazquez (thigh injury, out for three weeks).

On the other hand, Ancelotti got a major boost as one of his most trusted midfielders, Eduardo Camanvinga, who picked up an injury during the international break, was called up for the match and will likely get some minutes as well.

“Vini Jr., Kroos, Tchouameni will NOT play tomorrow,” Ancelotti said in a presser on Friday. “Kroos rested or injured? He felt a little something, but he will travel with the team to Saudi Arabia (for the Spanish Super Cup).”

On the other hand, Turk prodigy Arda Guler, who was called up for the first time since moving to the Spanish capital last week against RCD Mallorca, may get his first-ever start for Los Blancos.

“Arda Guler is available, it’s possible that he starts,” the Italian confirmed.

Real Madrid will go with the centre-back (CB) pairing of Antonio Rudiger and Nacho Fernandez as they are the only two fit CBs the club has.

During the match against Villarreal on December 18, David Alaba became the third player after Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois to tear his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) and was ruled out eight months of action.

Real Madrid’s injury list and their expected return time

Lucas Vazquez (Early February)

Eder Miltao (Late February/Early March)

Thibaut Courtois (April)

David Alaba (August/September)