The XI of players called upon by Xabi Alonso for Real Madrid’s meeting with Olympiacos has been unveiled online.
And it features a number of high-profile absences.
As expected, the sidelined Thibaut Courtois and Dean Huijsen have been ruled out, alongside David Alaba and Éder Militão, as well as long-term absentees Antonio Rüdiger and Dani Carvajal.
The headline exclusion for the visitors to Athens, though, comes in the middle of the park.
After word was forthcoming earlier this evening that Jude Bellingham was suffering with a fitness problem of his own, the Englishman has not been risked with a starting berth.
Stepping back into Real’s engine room, on the other hand, are all of Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, and Aurélien Tchouaméni.
Amid the ongoing personnel crisis at the heart of Los Blancos’ backline, meanwhile, Álvaro Carreras has been forced to cover in a central role once again, allowing for Ferland Mendy to return at left-back.
Check out the visitors’ starting line-up to face Olympiacos at Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium below:
Conor Laird – GSFN
