REAL MADRID
Real Madrid round-up: Benzema, Carvajal, Marcelo, Alaves
Thoughts are now firmly fixed on Saturday's away trip to Vitoria as injury worries pile up for Julen Lopetegui with Dani Carvajal being the latest casualty.
Thoughts are now firmly fixed on Saturday's away trip to Vitoria as injury worries pile up for Julen Lopetegui with Dani Carvajal being the latest casualty.
Carvajal scan
Carvajal was forced to retire from the action in Moscow on Tuesday complaining of a muscle problem in his calf. Now that the inflammation has subsided the club medical team can carry out a scan this morning to determine the severity of the issue. It's felt that the muscle has not been torn but just badly strained and the player will miss a couple of weeks of action with everything pointing to a end of October return for the defender.
Benzema Lopetegui favourite
French striker Karim Benzema is the only Real Madrid player to have started all ten official games this season. Despite his full house of starts for the club, early substitutions mean that he's the second player from the 18/19 squad to have secured most playing time having seen 839 minutes of action. The forward is only beaten by one minute by captain Sergio Ramos who has played for 840 minutes in the current campaign.
Pre-derby problems
Madrid Police surprised a group of heavily Real Madrid ultras on Friday night just hours before the capital was to celebrate the derby, a police spokesman informed Europa Press. Plain-clothes officers swooped on a group of around 30 men who has been acting suspiciously in a bar in Calle Marceliano Santa María close to the Santiago Bernabéu stadium with a planned battle against their Atleti counterparts earmarked for the Saturday.
Alaves tickets
Despite a steady sale in match day tickets for Saturday's Deportivo Alaves-Real Madrid LaLiga game in Mendizorroza, a limited quantity of tickets are still on sale via the Basque club's website. Cheaper tickets are sold out but a seat to follow the big match action in the Basque capital can be secured from 40 euro and presents a wonderful opportunity to witness one of the better atmosphere in LaLiga.
No Brazil for Marcelo
The Brazil national team selectors have confirmed that the Real Madrid defender will not be called upon as the "Seleção" play two friendly games in the forthcoming international break against Saudi Arabia and Argentina. Marcelo sustained the muscle strain in his right calf in the Sevilla game and missed the derby against Atlético Madrid on Saturday. It's anticipated the Brazilian will return to action mid October.
