Real Madrid: Sergio Ramos left out of list for Osasuna clash
The central defender trained as normal on Friday, but Zidane decided against risking him in tomorrow's league meeting with Osasuna.
The Real Madrid squad trained out on pitches 1 and 2 in Valdebebas this morning with two positive pieces of news: Sergio Ramos and Nacho both exercised at the same pace as the rest of the squad meaning that in theory, both would be available for tomorrow's visit from Osasuna. However, Zidane decided to leave Ramos out of his squad list as a precaution.
The captain is now over his muscular problems and was hoping to be handed minutes this weekend ahead of next week's Champions League semi-final return leg against Chelsea. But Zidane doesn't want to take any risks after suffering several set-backs in defence where he is without Carvajal, Lucas and Mendy.
Nacho, who missed Thursday's session after taking a knock in the first leg against Chelsea, has been included in the list. While Zidane is without Carvajal and Lucas Vázquez, he only has Odriozola available for the right-back position but the coach has zero faith in the Basque defender. Nacho could revert to his old role, leaving Ramos, Varane and Militão as options in central defence against Chelsea in London next week.
That still leaves problems over on the left. Mendy has yet to return to full training and has just four days to do so before Madrid set off for London. The French full-back still has twinges and his absence would complicate matters for Zizou against Chelsea. Without Mendy, Nacho would normally have moved over to the left-back slot, but with Carvajal out he is needed at right-back That leave a problem on Marcelo's flank.
Wait on Mendy and Valverde
Just to complicate matters even further, Marcelo has been called up to supervise on an electoral table at next week's regional elections, which could not have a worse time - 4 May, which means he won't be able to travel with the squad to England. Marcelo will probably make the journey on his own on the day of the game - that's if the results of the elections are not delayed. Zidane is hoping that Mendy will be back training as normal on Monday.
Also absent from today's session was Fede Valverde, who tested negative for Covid-19 in a PCR test but is only just at the end of his 10-day quarantine and has to test negative for a second time before he can rejoin the group. He should be fit for the Chelsea game.
Zidane included three Castilla players in his 21-man squad list for the Osasuna game - left-back Miguel Gutiérrez and midfielders Arribas and Blanco.
Real Madrid squad for the Osasuna game
Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, Altube.
Defenders: Militao, Varane, Nacho, Marcelo, Odriozola, Miguel Gutiérrez.
Midfielders: Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, Isco, Arribas, Blanco.
Forwards: Hazard, Benzema, Asensio, Vinicius, Mariano, Rodrygo.