Real Madrid missing three players for La Liga clash with Almeria
Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao and David Alaba all have long-term ACL injuries, with the latter out for the season, although there is a hope that both Courtois and Militao could play a part before the end of the campaign.
Lucas Vazquez has also recently been on the sidelines with a hamstring problem, but the Spaniard has handed Los Blancos a fitness boost by returning to the squad against Almeria.
Real Madrid have no fresh injury concerns, meaning that Courtois, Militao and Alaba are the only absentees for the team's return to La Liga action.
Vinicius Tobias and Mario Martin were in the squad for Thursday's 4-2 loss to Atletico Madrid in the last-16 stage of the Copa del Rey, but the duo are left out of the selection for this match.
«There are players who deserve to play, I have to take into account those who haven't recovered well. I think they will all recover. The objective is not to give minutes but to win the games,» head coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters during his pre-match press conference.
Real Madrid have not been in La Liga action since recording a 1-0 win over Mallorca on January 3, but they have played four times since then, including two games in the Spanish Super Cup, beating both Atletico and Barcelona in Saudi Arabia to secure the trophy.
«I try to be as objective as possible. In the league defeat we did badly and from there we improved,» Ancelotti added, with Real Madrid now losing twice to Atletico this season, including once in La Liga.
«The cup game was very well played, there were situations that cost us, we weren't sharp at the back but we created a lot of chances. It was a great opponent. They
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