Why is Asencio not playing for Real Madrid against Bayern Munich in Champions League quarterfinal 2nd leg?

Real Madrid arrived in Munich shortly after midday on Tuesday, ahead of this evening’s Champions League quarter final return leg against Bayern Munich.

Álvaro Arbeloa has taken 23 players to Germany - including Aurélien Tchouaméni who will miss the game due to suspension but who has traveled with his team mates to lend moral support.

Center-back Raúl Asencio was due to be part of the Madrid expedition but was dropped from the list on Monday after suffering a bout of gastroenteritis.

Madrid’s back four against Bayern

Asencio’s absence won’t alter Arbeloa’s initial game plan, as the coach was already preparing to line up Antonio Rüdiger and Éder Militão as his central defensive pairing at the Allianz Arena. Still, it leaves Madrid with one less option should anything unexpected happen during the match.

Like Tchouaméni, Thibaut Courtois wanted to fly out with the squad to cheer the team on from the sidelines but Madrid’s medical department advised against it as he continues to recovering from an injury to his right quadriceps. They don’t want him losing two valuable days of rehab work at Valdebebas.

Rodrygo, who is recovering from a ruptured ACL, is the other absentee.

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