Real Madrid has a challenging program ahead of them.

Carlo Ancelotti’s team will play nine matches in the 28 days before Christmas. This includes Sunday’s match against Leganes, Champions League trips to Liverpool and Atalanta, La Liga matches against Athletic Club, Girona and Sevilla and the final of the Intercontinental Cup, formerly the FIFA Club World Cup, against an as yet unknown opponent. .

They will have to do that without three key defenders who are injured: Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao and David Alaba. Carvajal and Militao are both out for the season due to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, while Alaba is still recovering from that injury last season.

Other minor absentees include Aurelien Tchouameni, who has a sprained ankle, and Lucas Vazquez and Rodrygo, both of whom have muscle problems. Coupled with Thibaut Courtois’ groin injury before El Clasico, Madrid had seven injured players during this latest international break. If The Athletics Reported last week, they have suffered at least 25 injuries this season, which has contributed to internal tensions at the club.

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Sources on the coaching staff – who, like everyone else quoted in this article, asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships – say Ancelotti knows he will have to make do with the resources he has, as has been the case in previous seasons .

It is not even clear whether Madrid will be able to sign anyone in January, despite voices from senior clubs telling coaching staff a few weeks ago that they understood the need for reinforcements. Some coaches fear that if they can tackle the injury crisis by adjusting the lineup, the club will see no need to sign anyone.

Ancelotti is expected to continue with a 4-4-2 formation to give his team more security in midfield. But how will he plug the holes in the XI?

Goalkeeper

Despite Courtois’ recent absence – he missed the last three games before the international break – he is expected to be available against Leganes.

The 32-year-old has not been called up to the Belgian squad since June 2023 due to a rift with head coach Domenico Tedesco. The general manager of the Belgian Football Association, Peter Willems, recently contacted Madrid’s number 1 in an attempt to get him back into the ranks, but because The Athletics Courtois reportedly reiterated that he would not return under Tedesco.

This means that Courtois was able to recover at the Valdebebas training facilities in Madrid during the break. He has done some exercises with the rest of the group and should be back on Sunday. If he isn’t, Andriy Lunin has shown himself to be a reliable backup.

Right back

One of the positions that raises the most doubts. Carvajal is out for the rest of the season and Vazquez was sidelined in Madrid’s final match against Osasuna earlier this month with a back injury.

The club initially reported that Vazquez would be out for about a month, but several sources at Valdebebas have said so The Athletics the extent of the injury is not as bad as they thought – and his camp says he will try to return in time for the match against Liverpool, which is seen by those in Madrid as the next ‘final’.

Since it will be a high-intensity match, Ancelotti could turn to Federico Valverde as a right-back. That’s not the Uruguayan midfielder’s natural position, but his energy could be useful if Vazquez isn’t at 100 percent.

There are alternatives in the youth system, such as Lorenzo Aguado and David Jimenez from the Real Madrid Castilla reserve side and Jesus Fortea, who plays for the Under 19s. They are all closely monitored by the first team coaching staff, who have Fortea at its age (17) as one of the best in his position in Europe. But those at the club know it shouldn’t be rushed, and aren’t so sure the youngsters will play a big role so quickly.

Fortea is highly rated within the club (Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Central defense

The most worrying position for Madrid.

Madrid will be without Militao for about nine months after he underwent surgery on his cruciate ligament on Tuesday. Alaba is not expected to be available again until January, and even then there are doubts as to whether he can compete at the highest level so soon after his return.

That leaves Antonio Rudiger as the only suitable senior option. After him there is Tchouameni, who Ancelotti considers his third central defender since the start of the season. The Frenchman doesn’t see himself in that position long-term, but recent injuries will likely make him a starter in that position as he recovers. It is highly unlikely he will be available for the trip to Liverpool.

Jesus Vallejo is a beloved figure in the dressing room, but is not being considered by Ancelotti. In the last match against Osasuna, the player chosen to replace the injured Militao was Raul Asencio from the academy, instead of the 27-year-old.

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The only doubt for the coaching staff was whether to play Asencio or left-back Ferland Mendy when that happened, but they opted for the 21-year-old, who put in an impressive performance and assisted Jude Bellingham with the first goal of the season. He will now be part of the first team training.

Asencio is excited and believes he has a chance to become an important part of the squad. Assistant coaches Davide Ancelotti and Francesco Mauri have carried out special sessions with him in recent weeks to improve his positioning, as they did with Alaba and Militao.

But the coaching staff believes Castilla coach and Madrid legend Raul has done a great job with Asencio, who wants to play against Liverpool. Fellow youth centre-back Jacobo Ramon will also be in contention once he returns from a muscle injury as the coaching staff rates him highly.

Left back

Madrid have two defenders available in this position in Mendy and Fran Garcia, and there should be no problems here.

Mendy earned a three-year contract extension with his excellent performances last season, but he has not been at his best since the start of the season. That presents opportunities for Garcia, who has made 12 appearances in all competitions, but Mendy is still seen as first choice for big games such as the tie at Anfield.

Defensive midfield

The coaching staff sees Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga as the ideal midfield duo if they have no physical problems, but the former may be needed further back in the short term.

Luka Modric and Dani Ceballos are seen as alternatives who can inject their personality into midfield. Madrid have been unable to replace Toni Kroos since his retirement in the summer and that has led to a more direct approach, although Ancelotti’s side are struggling with fluidity.

Tchouameni would be the other option as this is his usual role, but he will basically play as a centre-back.

Attacking midfielders

Jude Bellingham remains the obvious first choice in attacking midfield.

Bellingham scored his first goal of the season against Osasuna (Federico Titone/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The Englishman has been more committed to defensive duties this season following the arrival of Kylian Mbappe. Footage from the tunnel at half-time of the 1-1 draw away to Mallorca in the first league match of August showed Bellingham asking the team’s front three to “finish the attacks because the running back is damn hard”.

Bellingham is considered untouchable despite his persistent shoulder problems and will be given more attacking space in the coming games, with Camavinga and Valverde providing defensive cover. This was already evident in the match against Osasuna, in which Bellingham played with more freedom and was rewarded with his first goal of the campaign.

Rodrygo is injured, but could be the other attacking midfielder when he returns. He returned to training with the ball this week and has not been ruled out for Liverpool, although he is more doubtful for that game than Vazquez.

The club announced earlier this month that Rodrygo would be out for five to six weeks, but this has reportedly been very cautious and is expected to be significantly shortened. The coaching staff values ​​the Brazilian as a valuable attacking player who can balance the team with his contribution in defense and in the future.

While Rodrygo is recovering, the plan is to bring in a central midfielder like Modric to work off the ball and deploy a creative player like Brahim Diaz. The winger from Morocco scored five goals in two games for his national team and is looking back to his best after a muscle injury.

The alternative is Arda Guler, who has not played for Osasuna for four games in a row. The Turkish youngster is expected to get more minutes, although places in midfield are limited.

Attackers

Fans may have their doubts in this area, but there are none for Ancelotti: Mbappé and Vinicius Junior are his two starting attackers.

They are both fit and will play against Leganes, but Mbappé is having a difficult first few months at Madrid. The club believes in his potential and thinks he has simply lost his rhythm. France coach Didier Deschamps has not called up Mbappe for a second successive international break this month, but Madrid sources believe this could help him find his best level if it gives him more rest.

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Vinicius Jr. will continue to play on the left as he is currently considered Madrid’s most important player in that position. Although he and Mbappe frequently swap positions during matches, their starting roles are clear, with the Frenchman in the middle.

Both will also be tasked with showing more effort without the ball. According to Opta, Mbappe has made just one successful tackle and no interceptions this season. Vinicius Jr. was more energetic and committed 16 tackle attempts, the fourth most of any La Liga player this season.

Additional Contributor: Thom Harris

(Top photo: Getty Images)