How many games will Real Madrid defender Nacho be suspended for after Alavés red card?

After being shown a second red card of the season for his trodding on the heel of Samu Omorodion in Real Madrid’s last game of 2023 against Alavés on 21 December, Nacho has been handed a one-match suspension. The defender was originally booked for the foul by referee Isidro Díaz de Mera Escuderos, who then opted to send him off after a VAR check. The Madrid club captain has ultimately been handed the minimum ban and will miss the LaLiga game at home to Real Mallorca on 3 January before returning to the fold for the Copa del Rey tie away to Arandina three days later.

Nacho red-card challenge “unintentional”

It has been ruled by the Spanish Soccer Federation’s competition committee that Nacho’s challenge was “forceful” but that there had been no violent conduct. The 33-year-old was judged to have stood on the back of Omorodion’s leg unintentionally and, as a result, has been given a standard one-match suspension. The same verdict was reached with Atlético Madrid defender Caglar Soyüncü, who committed a similar foul on Sevilla’s Lucas Ocampos a couple of days later. The Turk will also be forced to miss one game.

Militão and Alaba injury update: when will they be back?

With Eder Militão and David Alaba out with long-term injuries, Antonio Rüdiger will be the only central defender available to Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti for the first league game of 2024 against Mallorca. The Brazilian’s recovery is going smoothly, with the ACL tear he suffered back in August not also affecting his meniscus (unlike goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois), which could help him return to action more quickly. The hope is that Miltão could be back playing in March. Alaba, on the other hand, will miss the rest of the season.

With the centre-back duo sidelined and Nacho suspended, “emergency” defender Aurélien Tchouaméni is the most likely candidate to start the year at the back alongside Rüdiger.