Injured Real Madrid duo doubtful for AS Monaco clash midweek | OneFootball

Having secured the first win of the Alvaro Arbeloa era yesterday against Levante, Real Madrid next stare up at a clash in the UEFA Champions League which will be anything but simple.

They play host to AS Monaco in Round 7 of the UEFA Champions League, and while Los Blancos would normally be favourites for the clash, their inconsistent form in recent weeks complicates matters.

Further, it remains unclear how many players the manager will be able to count on for the European clash given that some big names missed both the team’s clashes against Albacete and Levante through injury.

Squad updates

Arbeloa must devise a plan sans-Rodrygo and Rudiger. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

As confirmed in a recent report by MARCA, Antonio Rudiger and Rodrygo Goes both continued to train individually today and are serious doubts for the game against Monaco midweek.

Needless to say, this comes as a massive blow to Alvaro Arbeloa’s plans given how Dean Huijsen has looked underconfident in recent weeks and how desperately the squad needs Rudiger’s grit back on the field.

Rodrygo’s absence is an equally massive blow, for the Brazilian has been one of the team’s best players in recent weeks and has combined well with Vinicius Jr.

Further, the report adds that Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ferland Mendy, and Eder Militao are all definitely ruled out of the game and will not make it back in time under any circumstances.

As it stands, Real Madrid are seventh on the UCL table with 12 points after six games. Two games remain, but any further slip-ups could well cost them their spot in the top-8 and force a knockout qualifier.

The clash against Monaco, thus, is close to a must-win and Real Madrid will hope that Rudiger and Rodrygo defy the odds and make it back in time.