Real Madrid: Another Barcelona defender ruled out of crucial Clasico

Real Madrid players are getting back into contention for the forthcoming and all-important Clasico this weekend. Karim Benzema, who seemed to have picked up a knock against Shakhtar, should have no problems in playing against the arch-rivals. Obviously, Ferland Mendy will also feature against Barcelona, having fully recovered from the injury that kept him out for so long.

It seems that Dani Carvajal and Eden Hazard have also recovered from their injuries, which is just a great sight. Whether they should play or not is another story, but they have fully recovered, according to the coach, Carlo Ancelotti.

Things are going the exact opposite way for Barcelona, though. As reported earlier, Ronald Araujo won’t be able to play against Real Madrid due to the injury he picked up recently. This has made their defense even weaker as now they’ll have to rely on either Eric Garcia, who hasn’t been good since signing for the club, or Clement Lenglet, who just happens to make many wrong decisions in big games.

Pedri and Ousmane Dembele are also out of contention for the game against their rivals. And, to make things even worse, Jordi Alba is now also ruled out of the clash.

Real Madrid won’t have to deal with Jordi Alba’s overloads during the Clasico

If you’ve been a Real Madrid fan for long enough, you’d know how dangerous Alba has been on that left flank. He makes amazing runs into the final third and his chemistry with you-know-who caused Real a lot of problems, and by lot, I mean a lot.

Now, Lionel Messi is no longer a Barcelona player, and Jordi Alba seems like a worse version of himself, given that he has definitely declined a bit. But, even then, he’s still a big threat to the weak right side of Real Madrid.

If Dani Carvajal doesn’t start against Barcelona, that means Lucas Vazquez would, and we know how vulnerable Vazquez is on the defensive side of the game. The fact that he won’t have to face Alba on Sunday makes me a little relieved, to be honest. Alex Balde or Sergino Dest will probably take Alba’s place against Real.

Alba also happens to form a good partnership with youngster Ansu Fati, someone that Real Madrid should be wary of right from kick-off. But, the Real Madrid defense would surely take a breather because of the absence of the young Spaniard’s partner-in-crime.