Madrid start Clásico preparations with Isco and Varane doubtful
The midfielder took part in Thursday's session but may not be fit in time for the Camp Nou while the defender didn't make it out on to the pitch.
Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid side turned their minds back to domestic matters on Thursday as the Frenchman’s squad took to the training pitches at Valdebebas ahead of this weekend’s Clásico against Barcelona at Camp Nou.
After securing their place in a third consecutive Champions League final on Tuesday with a 4-3 aggregate victory over Bayern Munich, Zidane’s players were handed a day off on Wednesday and the Real boss now has to see what shape his squad are in ahead of the biannual grudge match against the eternal rival.
According to the club’s doctors, Isco was unavailable against Bayern due to a sprained shoulder he suffered in the opening leg in Munich and although he was able to take some part in training on Thursday he remains a doubt for the Clásico and ended the session working alone with the physios.
Zidane has problems at the back for Barcelona
Raphael Varane is also unlikely to feature in Camp Nou after struggling through the Bayern game with a problem in his leg that initially looked bad enough for Zidane to send Nacho out to warm up in the first half. The France defender did not join his teammates on the turf and is a serious doubt for Sunday, although the return to fitness of the Spain international provides Zidane with cover in defence.
Dani Carvajal is also set to miss out after picking up a hamstring injury in the Allianz Arena that ruled him out of the return leg, providing Zidane with another selection issue for Barcelona. Achraf Hakimi probably won’t be handed the onerous task of going up against Leo Messi, Luis Suárez and company but Lucas Vázquez filled in against Bayern and could do so again, although Nacho is the obvious replacement for his international teammate. That though would leave Zidane short in the middle in the probable absence of Varane.
