Five members of Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid squad were expected absentees from the club’s latest matchday party, unveiled a short time ago.
Real’s star-studded ranks, of course, were today put through their final paces, ahead of one last outing before the incoming international break.
Los Blancos will make the trip to El Sadar on Saturday afternoon, for a La Liga clash with Osasuna.
After the day’s focus in Madrid was fixated firmly on matters on the continent, owing to the draw for the quarter-finals of the Champions League, it will now require turning back to the domestic front.
A dominant return to winning ways at the expense of Celta Vigo last weekend means that Real, with a 2nd successive victory on Saturday, will be guaranteed to head into the international break a minimum of seven points clear atop the Spanish top-flight.
Efforts towards as much, however, will come sans the contributions of several high-profile members of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad.
Front and centre comes Jude Bellingham, who will sit out the 2nd of a two-game ban at El Sadar.
And reducing the midfield options of Los Blancos’ coaching staff further will be the injury-enforced absence of Dani Ceballos.
Add to this long-term absentees Thibaut Courtois, Éder Militão, and David Alaba, and Real Madrid find themselves down five players for their meeting with Osasuna.
Those to have been included in the travelling party bound for Pamplona, on the other hand, are showcased below:
Conor Laird | GSFN
