The extent of the defensive personnel crisis facing La Liga giants Real Madrid at present has been confirmed on Friday. This comes courtesy of the release of the club’s latest matchday squad.
José Mourinho’s troops are of course primed to return to action on Saturday. After a hit-and-miss opening to the new campaign, Los Blancos will set about getting things back on track in a league meeting with Villarreal.
Recent days have seen a host of reinforcements arrive back at Valdebebas, following the conclusion of the international break.
One area of Real’s squad which has remained a source of concern, though, is central defence. Recent weeks have seen the options at the disposal of Mourinho and his staff struck off one by one.
After Dean Huijsen picked up a one-match suspension in the Madrid Derby, Raúl Asencio joined long-term absentee Éder Militão on the sidelines.
Summer signing Ibrahima Konaté was then forced into a premature departure from French national team duty, albeit with the former Liverpool man having since recovered.
All taken into consideration, as confirmed courtesy of Real Madrid’s latest squad release on Friday, only the returning Konaté and veteran stopper Antonio Rüdiger are therefore available to man the heart of Los Merengues’ backline to face Villarreal on Saturday.
Conor Laird – GSFN
