Zidane calls Tejero and Quezada to boost depleted defence
The Real Madrid coach has just four defenders available for Saturday's visit from Sevilla: Achraf, Nacho, Theo and Marcelo. Bale trained apart this morning.
Real Madrid returned to the training ground this morning, just hours after their 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund in the final group stage game of the Champions League. Zidane was without three defenders for the session - Dani Carvajal, Jesús Vallejo and Raphaël Varane, the latter is undergoing tests to determine the extent of the muscular injury he picked up in last night's game.
Defensive problems mount for Real Madrid
Varane's injury has compounded Madrid's problems in defence with Zidane facing an authetic headache to be able to field a back four against Sevilla this weekend. Sergio Ramos and Carvajal, who went into the book against Athletic Club last week, are suspended for the match while Vallejo is still not fully fit was unable to train with the group today. One option open to the coach would have been to drop Casemiro back to pair up with Nacho in central defence but the Brazilian must serve a one-match ban this weekend after seeing his fifth booking in Bilbao a few days ago; another would be to field either Marcos Llorente or Tejero but it turns out the Castilla defender is also suspended.
Zidane has just four first team defenders available to face Sevilla: Achraf Hakimi, Nacho Fernández, Theo Hernández and Marcelo; to make up the numbers, Zidane drafted in rserve team players Álvaro Tejero and Luismi Quezada.
Under-19s keeper Moha Ramos and midfielder Jaime Seoane completed a reduced group which the coach had to work with today. Luca Zidane is sidelined until the New Year while Gareth Bale, who is recovering from an ionjury to his left calf muscle, trained apart.