Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti will have to make key adjustments to his midfield when his side travel to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final on 8 April.
With Aurélien Tchouaméni suspended, all Real Madrid eyes turn to Eduardo Camavinga, who delivered an emphatic reminder of his quality during France’s tense win over Croatia on Sunday.
Introduced in extra time, Camavinga completed all 11 of his passes, including a 40-metre ball that put Kylian Mbappé one-on-one with the goalkeeper. It was, as AS described, “a calm in the storm” performance from a player who has endured a stop-start season.
Plagued by injury, Camavinga has missed 20 of Madrid’s 48 games this term, suffering three separate setbacks including a ligament sprain and two muscle tears.
His total minutes (1,573) rank him 15th in the squad, behind the likes of Fran García and Lucas Vázquez. With Dani Ceballos and Luka Modrić both ahead of him in the rotation for much of the campaign, the Emirates may now offer him a shot at redemption – and a return to the starting XI.
Real Madrid resumed training on Tuesday without the bulk of their international players, who are expected to return later in the week.
Fran García, who had been dealing with discomfort following the match against Villarreal, trained without issue and is expected to be available for the weekend’s La Liga fixture against Leganés. His return offers much-needed cover at left-back with Ferland Mendy still sidelined.
Meanwhile, Dani Ceballos and Mendy both continue recovery work in a bid to be fit for the Arsenal clash. Ceballos did light work on the grass in Valdebebas on Tuesday, raising hopes he could make the bench in London.
Éder Militão and Dani Carvajal, both long-term absentees with ACL tears, will miss the trip.
Also back at the training ground are Raul Asencio and Andriy Lunin, who completed full sessions following their return from international duty.
Thibaut Courtois, absent from Belgium’s last match due to minor discomfort, worked indoors but is not considered a doubt for Saturday or the Arsenal tie.