Real Madrid is gearing up to face Sevilla this weekend at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium; however, they will be without key attacking options in the central position.
Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz, Karim Benzema, and Vinicius Junior are all expected to be sidelined due to injuries.
Mariano and Asensio are dealing with muscular problems, while Benzema has stitches in his foot following a cut he sustained in a match against Rayo Vallecano.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti has also confirmed that Vinicius Junior is still struggling with a knee issue, which prevented him from participating in their recent midweek victory.
Ancelotti denied the Brazilian was being left out as a convenience, following the racial persecution he has suffered of late away from home.
“No, he doesn’t travel because he can’t play. His knee still bothers him. He can’t play, period,” Ancelotti said, via Football Espana.
Real Madrid are a point ahead of city rivals, Atletico Madrid in second place and that, along with professional pride, remain the only thing in play, Sports Mole cited.
Florentino Perez may also remind his charges that several millions in Euros are in play.
Sevilla, meanwhile, can still make seventh place and the Europa Conference League next season, but will have their attention firmly focused on next week’s Europa League final against Roma.
Real Madrid stands by Vinicius
Meanwhile, Real Madrid paid special tribute to Vinicius Junior after the Brazilian forward faced racist abuse in the club’s previous La Liga game against Valencia.
The men’s and women’s teams, along with the basketball squad, showed solidarity for the 22-year-old by wearing his jersey number before their games on Wednesday, Madrid Zone reported.
FIFA president, Gianni Infantino has also publicly supported Vinicius, Valencia has condemned the racist abuse, and Real Madrid has filed a hate crime complaint with Spanish authorities.
Vandals destroy Vinicius Jr’s poster
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that the racism row engulfing Spanish football shows no sign of abating after a poster of the Real Madrid forward Vini was defaced on Wednesday.
An image of the Brazilian player on an advertisement for stadium tours at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu was torn while the culprit left the effigy of Karim Benzema untouched.
The 22-year-old Real Madrid winger was given his marching orders for slapping Hugo Duro after being manhandled by the Valencia player, sparking jeers from home supporters.