Real Madrid: 3 things to look forward to vs. Alavés

2. A new defense

Real Madrid will be missing quite a few key players in their defense vs Alavés. Sergio Ramos will be missing the game due to suspension(accumulation of yellows) as will right-back Dani Carvajal. Marcelo also missed today’s training due to a minor injury and will not feature most likely. Nacho Fernández is also still recovering from an injury which means he’ll also be most definitely out of the game.

It’s not all bad news though. French center-back Raphael Varane seems to have recovered and will be back in the line-up. Éder Militão will take the captain’s spot in the line-up. And after his performance in the game against Athletic Bilbao, Madridistas and Zidane can trust the player to get the job done.

While the center-back position is covered, it’s the fullbacks that will have everyone worried. With Carvajal’s direct replacement Álvaro Odriozola sent on loan to Bayern Munich, Madrid doesn’t have any natural replacement in the squad.

Ferland Mendy could have played there with Marcelo on the left, but even Marcelo seems to have picked a minor injury, which means Mendy will have to play left-back. The only option left with Zidane will be deploying Lucas Vázquez at right-back. It’s an option that has been used before by Zidane and something that he’ll be ready to do again.

Vázquez will almost certainly have help, either through a two-way winger or one of Luka Modric/Fede Valverde helping out. Either way, it will be a new-look defense on Friday that takes the pitch and it will be interesting to see how it does.