Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid, the reigning Spanish and European champions, find themselves grappling with an escalating injury crisis as they navigate through a demanding season. The club's recent 2-0 victory against Real Betis, highlighted by Kylian Mbappe's LaLiga debut brace, has been overshadowed by a series of setbacks to key players.
The midfield, in particular, has been hit hard. Dani Ceballos sustained ankle ligament damage during the Betis match, compounding the absence of star signing Jude Bellingham, who is nursing a calf injury. Bellingham's condition has ruled him out of England's international fixtures, a silver lining for Ancelotti, who is notoriously wary of the international break's potential for further injuries."The international break is not ideal," said Ancelotti after the game with Betis. "We lose our players to the national team, and I hope they all come back safely."
Unfortunately, Ancelotti's fears have been realized. News from the French national team camp has brought fresh concerns. Aurelien Tchouameni has been forced to withdraw due to a left foot injury, while Ferland Mendy has suffered an impact injury to his right tibia.
Tchouameni's absence is particularly troubling given Madrid's depleted midfield options. Federico Valverde and the experienced Luka Modric now stand as Ancelotti's only available midfield specialists.
On the defensive front, Fran Garcia is poised to step in for Mendy if needed when Madrid faces Real Sociedad in their upcoming La Liga fixture on September 14.
As Real Madrid prepares to resume their campaign, Ancelotti faces a significant challenge in managing his squad's fitness and depth. The team's ability to overcome these injury setbacks will be crucial as they aim to defend their titles and maintain their competitive edge in both domestic and European competitions.
