Ancelotti has the defense in the box to receive Espanyol

They were two almost consecutive actions, but whose balance is very negative for Madrid’s interests: in just two minutes of difference, Militao and Nacho were booked by De Burgos Bengoetxea, which means that both will be absent for the match on Saturday the 30th against Espanyol (4:15 p.m.), causing a curious situation: if the Whites had to face the Blue and Whites this weekend, the Whites would not have guaranteed spare parts to build a solid defense: Alaba has to pass medical tests to accurately diagnose the discomfort she suffers in her right abductor; Vallejo is still on leave due to COVIDalthough he has only played seven minutes in the League so far this season (he did it against Granada at the Los Cármenes stadium), plus the sanctions of Militao and Nacho… To all this Mendy continues to exercise alone while Casemiro, another player who can act in that area, is still limping from physical discomfort.

The good thing is that there is still a week to go recovering troops: things being this way, Casemiro and Mendy, who already acted as a left-handed central defender with Zidane (against Getafe and Eibar, with two wins with the same result, 2-0), could be the pair of central defenders. To all this, we must wait to know the results of the medical tests to which David Alaba will be subjected, who was substituted at half-time against Osasuna for having discomfort in the right abductor. It will surely be low for the transcendental match against Manchester City on Tuesday (26, 9:00 p.m.).

The only ‘healthy’ in this section are two of the players who have played on the right side: Carvajal and Lucas Vázquez. Interestingly, the former has acted as a left-back in extra time against Chelsea, Sevilla and Osasuna with excellent results. Given the state of the defense, it is not unlikely that Ancelotti will pull Alaba (depending on his condition), Mendy and Casemiro to form a pair of central defenders to face Espanyol, with Lucas at right back and Carvajal playing at left. If this is one of the solutions, Valverde and Camavinga could continue to have their space in the starting eleven, accompanying Modric and Kroos in what could be one of the key games for the final achievement of the League title.