CLUB WORLD CUP
Real Madrid’s injury concerns as they head to Morocco for the Club World Cup
Despite missing out in Mallorca, initial tests suggest that Courtois may make a hypothetical final but Lunin will play in the game against Al Ahly.
Amid Real Madrid’s injury concerns on the eve of the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup, there was a glimmer of light with the news that Belgian stopper Courtois is not ruled out for the competition. Initial tests on the abductor muscle that had been giving a problem and forced him to miss the away defeat in Mallorca are not as serious as feared. As a precautionary measure, back-up stopper Lunin will play in Wednesday’s semi-final game against Al Ahly with Courtois projected to play in the hypothetical final on Saturday should Madrid beat the Egyptian side.
Madrid’s sick-bay
Real Madrid’s medical team have been kept busy in recent weeks and as things stand, three players are currently ruled-out of playing in Morocco: Mendy (muscle injury, left leg), Lucas Vázquez (severe right ankle sprain) and Hazard (patellar tendinitis). Question marks surround the fitness levels of both Militao and Benzema with the club not having issued a medical report on the pair. Inside information suggests that Benzema could be fit for Saturday but is 90% ruled out for the semifinals. Militao, for his part, had a less favorable prognosis and deemed as unlikely to be for for Saturday’s game.
Real Madrid travel to Rabat on Monday ahead of Wednesday’s semi-final game against Al Ahly with the winners advancing to face either Flamengo or Al Hilal in Saturday’s final.