Six Real Madrid stars absent from training before Levante clash; Mbappe a doubt despite training | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s preparation for their upcoming La Liga clash against Levante is already starting to take a mental toll. 

This is because, according to a report from MARCA, the squad continues to deal with a long list of unavailable players as the team gets ready for the fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The outlet mentions that Interim coach Alvaro Arbeloa oversaw his third training session this week with several key names missing. 

As such, the likes of Rodrygo, Antonio Rudiger, Andriy Lunin, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, and Trent Alexander-Arnold were all absent from group training. 

Another notable absentee remains Brahim Diaz, who is still away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations. 

His absence further limits attacking options, forcing the coaching staff to rely on rotation and youth reinforcements.

There is more to the story

There was some positive news, however, with Kylian Mbappe taking part in the session. Despite his presence on the pitch, though, expectations remain cautious. 

The French forward is still recovering from a knee sprain suffered at the end of last year and is not considered fully fit. 

Mbappe will not feature against Levante. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

As things stand, he is not expected to feature against Levante, with the club keen to avoid taking any unnecessary risks.

Another point of interest during the session was Raul Asencio. The defender trained wearing a protective mask after suffering a broken and deviated septum. 

The mask is expected to allow him to be available for the Levante match, offering Arbeloa a potential option in defence at a time when depth is limited.

As has often been the case this season, several academy players were drafted in to complete the session. 

In that regard, Alvaro Leiva returned to train with the first team once again, joined by Jorge Cestero, who recently featured in the Copa del Rey defeat to Albacete. 

Lastly, Joan Martinez and Cesar Palacios were also involved.

It now remains to be seen how Arbeloa approaches this clash, given that he began his senior team journey with a humiliating loss.