Bernabéu under siege! Real Madrid face Manchester City with depleted squad | OneFootball

Arbeloa still unsure about key positions

Bernabéu under siege! Real Madrid face Manchester City with depleted squad

Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa faces defensive concerns before Champions League last 16 match against Manchester City.

Injury concerns trouble Madrid’s defense

The coaching staff of Real Madrid led by Alvaro Arbeloa are dealing with several defensive questions ahead of their key Champions League clash with Manchester City.

The two team will meet on Wednesday at Santiago Bernabeu in first leg of the round of 16. However Madrid’s staff are still unsure about the final shape of the defense due to injury issues.

According to Spanish newspaper AS, the biggest concern surrounds left back Alvaro Carreras who is suffering from leg pain after heavy challenge in the previous match against Getafe, a game Madrid lost 1-0.

The coaching staff will continue to assess Carreras in the coming days, but the signs suggest Mendy could be trusted to start in such an important match.

More doubts in the back line

There is also uncertainty about the availability of David Alaba. The Austrian defender is still being evaluated and his participation against Man City remains unclear.

Madrid’s problems are not limited to defense. Several key players are currently sidelined through injury including Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo Goes.

A Crucial European Test

The Champions League tie against Manchester City is one of the biggest matches of Real Madrid’s season. Arbeloa’s side must find defensive balance despite the injury problems if they want a strong result before second leg.