Real Madrid are preparing for a deep fight. On Saturday, they’ll meet their rivals, Barcelona, in the Copa del Rey final. The club is at risk of missing key players, including David Alaba and Eduardo Camavinga. Both picked up injuries in Wednesday’s 1-0 win against Getafe. Alaba and Camavinga’s absence could impact Real Madrid’s chances, especially given their previous successful outings against Barcelona this season.
In their two meetings earlier this season, Real Madrid proved their overall superiority over rival Barcelona with a pair of lopsided victories. In October, they did so 4-0 at Santiago Bernabeu in LaLiga. Then in January, they won their Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia 5-2. In the face of such incalculable injury fears, these results have filled with confidence the ever-shuffling squad.
Injury Concerns for Real Madrid
Today, Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that both Alaba and Camavinga tore their thigh muscles. That creates an uncomfortable question of whether they can in good faith participate in the final.
“We will see tomorrow what the medical exams say but (Alaba and Camavinga) both suffered leg muscle injuries and it looks very unlikely for them to make it to Saturday’s final,” – Carlo Ancelotti
With both Alaba and Camavinga likely unavailable, Ancelotti might have to rely on Fran Garcia. He might turn out to be the answer to the left-back spot. Garcia’s primary task will be to contain Barcelona’s rising star, Lamine Yamal, who has been making headlines as a 17-year-old sensation this season.
Barcelona’s Title Pursuit
Barcelona joined the path to La Liga title sitting at the Leader’s position with 76 points. With just five league matches to go, they hold a four-point lead on archrival Real Madrid. The Catalan club are joint favorites to win a treble this year, adding to the stakes for a historic final. Of course, Barcelona have a huge match looming. Next week, they’ll meet Inter Milan in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
The backdrop of Barcelona’s terrific recent run and Real Madrid’s injury crisis makes for a difficult situation for Ancelotti’s team. Regardless of these absences, Ancelotti has still expressed confidence in their potential.
“There may be a favourite, but a final is a final. And anything can happen,” – Carlo Ancelotti
Looking Ahead
With each passing day as the final approaches, the pressure continues to build for Real Madrid’s players. With important players already ruled out— including Kylian Mbappe and Ferland Mendy —Ancelotti needs to plan wisely to neutralize Barcelona’s strengths. This one could have a huge effect on their Copa del Rey hopes. It might decide the trajectory of their whole season.
Leave a Reply