Zidane will have a major challenge against Leganés: align an eleven without two of the four footballers who have been starters in all matches after the break. Ramos and Carvajal saw against Athletic a yellow that is a match of sanction for both. They will meet it on Friday against Alavés at Di Stéfano (22:00, Movistar LaLiga). The loss of the captain is sensible, although Zizou he has the peace of mind of the good performance of Militao in San Mamés. However, Carvajal's absence is a puzzle: it is the only position of the defense that is not bent since Odriozola left on loan to Bayern during the last winter market.
The French coach gave the go-ahead to that transfer because he trusts Nacho for the right back. The problem is that the white youth squad is being punished for injuries this season like never during his career. If at the beginning of the course it was a sprained knee that separated him from the team in quite a few games, after the break he suffered a muscle ailment that has prevented him from entering any call yet.
The white youth squad is in the final phase of his recovery, during the past week he has already done work on the Valdebebas lawn and is expected to start exercising with the rest of his teammates. He may be ready for the duel against Alavés, although if he does it will be very fair. They would be his first minutes after confinement, after an injury and without playing since last February 6, in the debacle against Real Sociedad.
With these ingredients, your chances of owning it are reduced. And without it, Zidane must improvise. In the defeat against Betis he found himself in a similar situation and used Militao there, but now he will not be able to because the Brazilian will be in charge of replacing Ramos. Therefore, the most feasible option is Mendy's on the right side, a solution he used against Eibar in the only 45 minutes that Carvajal has lost after the break.
Lucas Vazquez
Another possibility, less likely, is to opt for Lucas Vázquez on the right side, a position that the Galician winger has already occupied on some occasion in the past. Whichever option is chosen, the result will be unknown. Either because of the slow pace of who best adapts to that demarcation (Nacho) or how unusual it would be for the other two alternatives (Mendy or Lucas Vázquez).