Raúl Asencio ruled out as Real Madrid injury crisis grows to 10 before Elche clash

Ten absences. That is the final number for Real Madrid against Elche. Just when it seemed the situation could not get worse, another problem surfaced late. Raúl Asencio has been ruled out with muscle overload. The issue is not considered serious, but the club is taking no risks.

The defender has been dealing with discomfort since the recent trip to Balaídos against Celta Vigo. With the looming Champions League showdown against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, the medical staff opted for caution. As a result, Asencio will not be part of the squad to face Elche.

That leaves the center back pairing likely to be Antonio Rüdiger alongside Dean Huijsen. With the number of absences piling up, there are few alternatives available to manager Álvaro Arbeloa.

For Madrid, the problems keep coming.

A long injury list

The total number of unavailable players now stands at ten: Éder Militão, Asencio, David Alaba, Álvaro Carreras, Ferland Mendy, Jude Bellingham, Dani Ceballos, Franco Mastantuono, Rodrygo, and Kylian Mbappé.

It is the thinnest squad Arbeloa has named since taking charge of the first team. Only 14 senior players are available, and two of them are goalkeepers.

Under normal circumstances, the coach might have rotated key midfielders like Aurélien Tchouaméni or Federico Valverde. With so few options, even assembling a starting lineup now feels like solving a Rubik’s Cube.

Two academy midfielders, Thiago Pitarch and Manuel Ángel, are strong candidates to start. One of them is almost certain to be in the lineup.

Academy reinforcements called up

With the roster stretched to its limit, Madrid have turned to La Fábrica, the club’s renowned academy system.

Arbeloa has called up five young prospects: left back Diego Aguado, who can also play center back, midfielders Thiago and Manuel Ángel, right winger Daniel Yáñez, and left winger César Palacios.

Goalkeeper Mario Mestre joins them as the third keeper, bringing the total number of academy additions to six.

Those promotions come at a cost. Real Madrid Castilla, which plays away to CD Lugo today, will be significantly weakened by the call-ups.

The situation is extremely delicate. That is the reality facing Real Madrid just hours before kickoff against Elche.

Real Madrid squad vs. Elche

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin, Mestre

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, Rüdiger, Huijsen, Fran García, Aguado

Midfielders: Tchouaméni, Eduardo Camavinga, Valverde, Arda Güler, Thiago, Manuel Ángel

Forwards: Vinícius Júnior, Brahim Díaz, Gonzalo García, Palacios, Yáñez

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