Real Madrid facing increased injury crisis as season continues without let-up

• Ancelotti had no time to rest his players for Club World Cup in Morocco.
• Real Madrid will play nine games in four weeks.
• The nine games spread over four weeks will test any team in the world.

Real Madrid’s season is going strong, but they are dealing with an escalating injury crisis.

Eder Militao, a central defender, and Karim Benzema, a striker, both had to leave their 2-0 victory over Valencia at home on Thursday night due to injuries.

Militao, who has been in outstanding form lately, left the game in the first half with what appeared to be an issue with his right abductor muscle, while Benzema requested to be replaced an hour into the match due to a different muscular ailment.

“This is what happens when you play every three days. There is no time to recover,” lamented Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti after the game.

Ferland Mendy, the lone left defender for Real Madrid, will be out for about six weeks due to a muscular injury, while Lucas Vazquez will be out for another month with an ankle twist he sustained during the Spanish Supercup.

Ancelotti had no opportunity to rest his players, though, as his team will play in the Club World Cup in Morocco after a Sunday league match against Mallorca. Real Madrid will play in the championship game on February 11 if they prevail in their semifinal match on Wednesday.

After that, they have a La Liga encounter against Elche at home that was moved from February 11 to February 15 before going to Osasuna on February 18 and then going to Liverpool in the Champions League three days later.

The team plays host to Atletico Madrid in a rivalry the next weekend, plays Barcelona in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarterfinal on March 2, and then travels to Betis on March 5.

The nine games spread over four weeks will test any team in the world.

Also Read

Real Madrid dominated Valencia, thanks to Asensio and Vinicius

Asensio and Vinicius score twice as Real Madrid defeat Valencia 2-0. The...