Real Madrid are optimistic about having three injured players back in time for their Champions League match against Liverpool on Wednesday, but they will be missing one of their star players.
Two of Europeâs top clubs will face off at Anfield this week. Liverpool, with six Champions League titles, will host the reigning champions, Real Madrid, in a highly anticipated encounter. Despite their title defense, Real Madrid has had a rocky start in this yearâs competition, losing two of their first four group-stage matches.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot will be dealing with player absences, just as Real Madridâs Carlo Ancelotti faces his own selection issues due to injuries.
Real Madrid Injury Update
As reported by the Evening Standard, three Real Madrid playersâRodrygo, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Lucas Vazquezâare recovering from injury and could be available for selection on Wednesday. Their return would be a significant boost for the Spanish club ahead of the key clash at Anfield.
However, Real Madrid faces a major setback. Marca confirmed that Vinicius Junior will miss the match due to a hamstring injury sustained during their recent win over Leganes. The Brazilian forward is expected to be out for at least a month, ruling him out of the midweek trip to Liverpool.
Liverpoolâs Advantage
Vinicius Juniorâs absence will likely be a relief for Liverpool supporters. The Brazilian winger has been a persistent threat to Liverpool, having scored important goals in recent encounters. He netted the winning goal in the 2022 Champions League final and scored twice in a 3-1 win over Liverpool in April 2021. Most notably, he scored twice in Real Madridâs 5-2 victory at Anfield in 2023. With five goals in as many games against Liverpool, his absence will undoubtedly lessen Madridâs attacking threat.
In addition to Vinicius, Real Madrid is also missing key players due to long-term injuries, including David Alaba, Dani Carvajal, and Eder Militao. While Rodrygo, Tchouameni, and Vazquez are close to returning to full fitness, it remains unclear if they will be match-ready for Wednesday.
A Golden Opportunity for Liverpool
Given Real Madridâs injury concerns and Liverpoolâs strong form under Arne Slot, this could be the best opportunity the Reds have had in years to break their recent struggles against the Spanish giants. Over the past decade, Liverpool has endured several defeats to Real Madrid, including two Champions League final losses in 2018 and 2022.
With the intense atmosphere at Anfield and Madridâs depleted squad, Liverpool may finally have the chance to avenge their past losses and secure a crucial victory over their long-time European rivals. Slotâs tactical expertise and the teamâs current momentum give the Reds plenty of confidence heading into the game.
Sportsmanship
While Liverpool fans will be eager to take advantage of Madridâs absences, itâs always unfortunate to see a player of Vinicius Juniorâs quality sidelined due to injury. His absence will certainly alter the match dynamics, but fans will hope for a swift recovery and his eventual return to action.
As the two teams prepare for this eagerly awaited clash, all eyes will be on Anfield to see whether Liverpool can finally overcome their struggles against Real Madrid or if the reigning champions will find a way to succeed despite their injury setbacks.
