MADRID, 19 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal is the main loss of the whites for the first match of the group stage of the 2023-2024 Champions League against German Union Berlin this Wednesday (6:45 p.m.), while Frenchman Ferland Mendy returns to the call of the merengue team.
In addition to the already known absences of the Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, the Brazilian Éder Militao -both long-term-, the Turkish Arda Güller -who will return to the group this Monday- and Vinícius Júnior, coach Carlo Ancelotti has to regret the loss of Carvajal on the right side, when the one from Leganés was going through a great moment of form.
As the Italian coach himself confirmed in the run-up to the Champions League match, the white youth squad has an overload that has forced them not to take risks. Thus, Lucas Vázquez will be his replacement on that side.
Aside from this bad news for Ancelotti, his list features the great news of Ferland Mendy, who has not yet made his debut in an official match this season with Real Madrid due to an injury suffered during the preseason. In addition, the youth players Lucas Cañizares, Vinícius Tobias and Gonzalo García will be there.
Thus, the list for the Champions League debut is made up of goalkeepers Lunin, Kepa and Cañizares; the defenders Alaba, Nacho, Lucas Vázquez, Fran García, Rüdiger, Mendy and Tobias; the midfielders Bellingham, Kroos, Modric, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni and Ceballos; and the forwards Rodrygo, Joselu, Brahim and Gonzalo García.