LALIGA
Why are Vinicius and Courtois not playing for Real Madrid against Alavés in LaLiga?
The title race in Spain’s top flight has a slightly different feel about it as we reach the festive season, with Madrid chasing a surprising rival.
Real Madrid’s final game of the 2023 calendar year is away at Alavés and, as you’ve come to expect, we’ll be bringing you the action live. Our Roddy will be in the hot seat building up to the action from an hour before kick off which is 3:30 p.m. ET, under the floodlights in the Basque city at 9:30 p.m. local time. Going into the game, there is a generally familiar feel about the top places in LaLiga, Madrid, Barça and Atlético all there or there abouts, but with one massive exception: Girona.
Alavés - Real Madrid: Follow the live action here!
The Catalan club is a relative minnow compared to the others but we should remember that they now fall into the umbrella of City Football Group, which also owns dominant English side Manchester City. That said, it’s not as if Michel’s squad features global household names, at least not yet, but it is that team that sit two points clear at the summit. With Girona at Betis earlier in the evening, Los Blancos will look to keep pace with them again, as they did on Sunday, with all three points on Thursday, but there are injuries to contend with.
Vinicius and Courtois still out for Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti has eight players sidelined who have not made the trip to the Basque country for this adios to the year. Éder Militao, Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavinga and Arda Güler are all missing, while key players at either end of the pitch remain out, namely Thibaut Courtois and Vinícius Jr. They do have some other decent options though.
Vini has been out since injuring his thigh muscle with Brazil. He left the World Cup qualifier against Colombia after 26 minutes on 17 November. Diagnosed with a left hamstring tear in Madrid, he was facing a recovery period of two and a half months. Fortunately, his recovery is ahead of schedule, evidenced by his recent training with the ball in Valdebebas. However, his return to team play is not expected until the New Year.
It was right at the start of the season when Courtois picked up his injury. His rehabilitation is progressing positively, yet the team is cautious not to accelerate his comeback prematurely, given the rupture in the cruciate ligaments of his left knee. The incident for the Belgian goalkeeper unfolded during a preparations for the Athletic Club match at San Mamés.