If there has been one thing that has been consistent with Real Madrid this season it's injuries. It seems as though the team is dealing a handful of injuries any given matchday, having a major impact on the fluidity of the team, costing them key results, as we've seen in the recent weeks against Osasuna and Getafe. Every game is a must win now if Real hope to reclaim the La Liga crown, but unfortunately, the squad will be embarrassingly thin against Celta Vigo. particularly in the backline.
As pointed out by Melchor Ruiz (via MadridXtra on X) Antonio Rudiger could be the only fit center-back available for Real Madrid's matchup against Celta Vigo on Friday. Dean Huijsen and Alvaro Carreras are suspended, David Alaba has some discomfort and will undergo tests and is unsure of playing, and Raul Asencio and Eder Militao are out injured.
Rudiger last one standing
As if the injuries in the attack weren't bad enough, the injuries in the backline may be even worse. The defense has been leaking in goals for fun and has showed little to no consistency at getting better and adding injuries to pretty much every defender isn't going to help.
As a result of all the injuries in the central of defense, Real now have to rely on 33-year-old Rudiger to be the leading force in the backline. While players like Fran Garcia and Ferland Mendy are fit and available to play at left-back, and Trent Alexander-Arnold available to right-back, who exactly will partner Rudiger in the center of defense remains unknown at the moment.
Arbeloa will have a couple options at his disposal should he need them. He could call on Dani Carvajal or Aurelien Tchouameni to fill in as an emergency center-back as we've seen Carlo Ancelotti do in the past, or he could call on talented Castilla center-back Joan Martinez.
The 18-year-old has featured for Real Madrid in the preseason, but has yet to officially make his senior team debut for Los Blancos. He impressed many in the preseason matches he played, with some even calling him 'the next Sergio Ramos' and now could be his time to finally make his long awaited debut. Real lost the first matchup against Celta Vigo back in December, and with the squad available to Arbeloa at the moment, another loss frankly wouldn't surprise many.