Real Madrid is set to face Arsenal in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night. However, the team will be without several key players due to a combination of injuries and suspensions, posing challenges for manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Unavailable Players:
- Aurelien Tchouaméni: The French midfielder is suspended for this match after accumulating multiple yellow cards in the competition. His absence will be felt in the central midfield, where he has been instrumental this season.
 - Dani Ceballos: Ceballos remains sidelined due to an injury that has kept him out of recent fixtures. His creativity and ball-handling skills will be missed in the midfield setup.
- Ferland Mendy: The left-back is recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during the match against Atletico Madrid. His defensive capabilities and attacking support on the flank have been valuable assets for the team.
- Éder Militão: The central defender is out due to a long-term knee injury. His absence further depletes Real Madrid’s defensive options.
- Dani Carvajal: The right-back continues to recover from a knee injury, leaving a gap in the defensive lineup.
- Andriy Lunin: The backup goalkeeper is unavailable due to a calf problem, limiting Real Madrid’s options between the posts. Â
Returning Player:
- Thibaut Courtois: In a positive development, the Belgian goalkeeper has returned to the squad after recovering from a muscle injury sustained during international duty. His presence is a significant boost for Real Madrid’s defense.
Additionally, six Real Madrid players are at risk of suspension for the second leg if they receive a booking in this match:
- Vinicius JrÂ
- Antonio Rüdiger
- Luka ModrićÂ
- Eduardo CamavingaÂ
- Lucas VázquezÂ
- EndrickÂ
These players will need to exercise caution to avoid missing the return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.Â
Arsenal’s Situation:
Arsenal also faces challenges, with several players unavailable for the upcoming match:
- Raheem Sterling: The winger is suspended for the first leg due to yellow card accumulation.
- Gabriel Magalhães: The central defender is sidelined with a muscle injury sustained in a recent match. Â
- Jurrien Timber: The defender is unlikely to feature due to an injury picked up in the same game as Gabriel. Â
- Ben White: Remains unfit and will not play against Real Madrid. Â
- Takehiro Tomiyasu: Also unfit and unavailable for the match.
- Riccardo Calafiori: Will not feature due to fitness concerns.
Both teams will need to adapt their strategies to account for these absences, making for an intriguing encounter as they vie for a spot in the Champions League semi-finals.
