Real Madrid down to bare bones in defence after suspension sidelines 25-year-old for Mallorca clash
Real Madrid down to bare bones in defence after suspension sidelines 25-year-old for Mallorca clash
If losing their fourth consecutive Clasico to Barcelona was not painful enough, Real Madrid have been hit with yet another setback, this time in the form of a suspension to Aurelien Tchouameni, who will now miss their upcoming La Liga clash against Mallorca.
The French midfielder picked up a costly yellow card in the 36th minute of Sunday night's seven-goal thriller at Montjuic. The booking came after Tchouameni, deployed as an emergency centre-back, brought down Ferran Torres while acting as the last man.
Advertisement
Referee Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez showed no hesitation in issuing the caution, which now rules the 25-year-old out of Matchday 36 due to an accumulation of bookings.
Never-ending problems for Real Madrid
Tchouameni's absence only deepens Real Madrid's already alarming defensive crisis. Carlo Ancelotti is already without five key defensive figures, namely, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy and Eduardo Camavinga, all sidelined due to injury.
Tchouameni will miss the Mallorca game through suspension. (Photo by)
The Italian tactician now finds himself with only three fit first-team defenders: Lucas Vázquez, Fran Garcia, and the inexperienced Raúl Asencio.
Advertisement
As a result, Ancelotti may be forced to reshuffle his starting XI once again, either by altering players' positions or dipping into the youth ranks.
Time for Jacobo Ramon?
The likeliest candidate to be promoted is Jacobo Ramon, a centre-back from Castilla who was already on the bench for the Clasico. Full-back Youssef Enriquez has also joined the senior squad as additional cover.
Real Madrid's depth is now being severely tested at a crucial stage of the season. With the La Liga title hopes slipping further away after another El Clasico defeat, the latest setback could prove pivotal in the run-in.
Ancelotti will need to conjure up solutions fast as Los Blancos look to stabilise their defence and salvage what's left of the domestic campaign.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
42 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Madrid's new street circuit to debut in 2026, replacing Imola on F1 schedule
LONDON (AP) — A new street circuit in Madrid will make its debut on the Formula 1 schedule in September of next year, replacing the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola. F1 announced its schedule for 2026 on Tuesday, setting the first Grand Prix at the new Madring track in the Spanish capital for Sept. 13. Spain gets two races for 2026 as Barcelona stays on the calendar for the final year of its contract. It faces an uncertain future after that. F1 has previously said Madrid's race will be known as the Spanish Grand Prix. The new schedule doesn't specify a new name for Barcelona's race, which has been known as the Spanish Grand Prix since 1991. Spain's second race means Italy drops back to having one Grand Prix as Imola leaves the schedule. The historic track, a favorite with drivers, returned to schedule in 2020 as a late addition amid the COVID-19 pandemic and has hosted five races since. Its contract was up this year. The 2026 F1 season will start March 6-8 in Melbourne with the Australian Grand Prix and concluded with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from Dec. 4-6. ___ AP auto racing:
Business Upturn
an hour ago
- Business Upturn
Will Neymar Jr play in Brazil vs Paraguay FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier?
By Aman Shukla Published on June 10, 2025, 12:23 IST As the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers heat up, all eyes are on Brazil's star-studded squad, with one question dominating discussions: Will Neymar play in the crucial Brazil vs Paraguay match scheduled for June 10, 2025? Neymar Jr., Brazil's record goalscorer, has been a focal point of speculation due to his recent injury struggles and absence from the national team. Neymar, the 33-year-old forward, has faced significant injury setbacks over the past few years. His last appearance for Brazil was in October 2023, when he suffered a devastating ACL and meniscus injury during a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay. This injury sidelined him for over a year, limiting his appearances for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia and later his boyhood club, Santos, where he returned in January 2025. Since his return to Santos, Neymar has struggled with recurring muscular injuries, including a thigh injury that delayed his comeback. Most recently, reports surfaced on June 8, 2025, indicating that Neymar tested positive for COVID-19, further complicating his availability for upcoming matches. These health challenges have raised doubts about his participation in Brazil's qualifier against Paraguay. Brazil's Squad Under Carlo Ancelotti Brazil's new head coach, Carlo Ancelotti, announced his first 25-man squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay on May 26, 2025, and Neymar was notably absent. Ancelotti explained that Neymar's recent return from injury and lack of full fitness were the reasons for his exclusion. However, the Italian coach emphasized that Neymar remains a key part of his plans for the 2026 World Cup, stating, 'We are counting on him. He came back to Brazil to play and prepare for the World Cup.' Brazil's squad for the qualifiers includes stars like Vinicius Jr., Casemiro, and Alisson, but the absence of Neymar and Real Madrid's Rodrygo has sparked debate among fans. Ancelotti's decision reflects a cautious approach, prioritizing Neymar's long-term recovery to ensure he's in peak condition for the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Real Madrid Will Present A New Signing To Fans
Real Madrid will present a new player to the club and its fans early on Tuesday afternoon in Spain, as the 15-time Champions League winner confirmed through an official statement. 'Real Madrid C. F. announces that today, at 12:30 p.m., the presentation of our player Dean Huijsen will take place at Real Madrid City,' the correspondence began. 'The president of Real Madrid, Florentino Perez, will receive Huijsen for the signing ceremony that links our new player with the club for the next five seasons. After the presentation, Huijsen will speak to the media in the press room at Real Madrid City,' it added. Huijsen became Madrid's first signing of the summer transfer window after Madrid triggered his £50 million release clause at Bournemouth on the weekend that a trophyless 2024/2025 campaign in terms of major silverware drew to a close. Rejected by Juventus, which allowed him to make just one senior appearance in Italy, he found his feet in England and attracted a number of top European clubs with his performances in a sole Premier League season. Madrid saw enough to pay big money for the 20-year-old, who was born in the Netherlands but moved to Spain as a youngster which has allowed him to become a regular in La Roja's national team currently keeping FC Barcelona Pau Cubarsi out of Luis de la Fuente's first XI. As of yet, there's still no word on when Trent Alexander-Arnold will be presented amid completing what was a free transfer in theory from Liverpool. The right back's contract at Anfield was expected to expire on June 30, but Perez paid a reported €10 million for the right back to switch allegiances earlier than planned and take part in the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup which kicks off in a few days. Because of this, 'TAA' might be unveiled following the US-held tournament and could be joined by Franco Mastantuono. As reported by various outlets, Real Madrid is closing in on Mastantuono after sending a delegation to Buenos Aires last week. In the Argentine capital, Madrid struck an agreement with the teenage prodigy and his current employers River Plate, but he's not expected to complete a transfer made possible by meeting his €45 million release clause until the Club World Cup has wrapped up.
