Problems for Real Madrid as two more players drop out of the squad vs Granada

With Sevilla dropping points on Saturday, Real Madrid have a golden opportunity to pull six points clear in the LaLiga Santander title race when they host Granada at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday night in Matchday 23. However, Carlo Ancelotti has been dealt another setback as two players have had to withdraw from the matchday squad in the hours before the game.

Casemiro and Lucas Vázquez are both suffering from a bout of gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the digestive system, so neither will be involved against the Andalusian side this Sunday.

In the case of Lucas Vázquez, this isn’t as big a problem since Dani Carvajal was expected to return to the right-back position anyway. But, losing Casemiro is always a big blow since there is no natural replacement for the Brazilian. Summer signing Eduardo Camavinga has filled in for Casemiro on multiple occasions this season, but has never fully convinced in that central role.

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Six absences in total for Real Madrid

The last-minute absences of Casemiro and Lucas Vázquez are especially problematic for Real Madrid because they already had a depleted squad for this game, with Vinícius to serve a yellow card accumulation suspension and with Karim Benzema, Mariano and Ferland Mendy all out injured.

This all means that it will be a weakened line-up that takes to the pitch against Granada, although Los Blancos will still be confident of victory given that they have won their past 13 meetings with the team from the south, most recently beating them 4-1 earlier in the season.

Furthermore, Real Madrid have a free midweek coming up after this, as a result of their Copa del Rey exit, so that will be a good opportunity for their players to rest and recover. They’ll then visit Unai Emery’s Villarreal side next Saturday afternoon, with PSG following afterwards.