Ahead of key game vs. Girona, Real Madrid received terrible news

This Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium will be played one of the most important matches of the season 2023/24 in Spain. There, the two best teams of La Liga, Real Madrid and Girona, will face each other. Los Merengues are, for now, the leaders of the standings with 58 points, but Los Tozudos are not giving up and are just two points behind them. That is why this weekend they will have an unbeatable opportunity to overtake them and regain their place at the top of the tournament.

Aware of the importance of this match, coach Carlo Ancelotti will put his best players on the field with the aim of showing a convincing performance and getting a victory that will bring them closer to the title. However, he encountered an unexpected problem that may complicate his plans.

"Following tests carried out today on our player Antonio Rüdiger by Real Madrid's medical services, he has been diagnosed with a muscular injury in the vastus lateralis of the left thigh. Pending evolution," the club informed through a statement shared on social media this Saturday morning.

The absence of the German defender vs Girona will be a headache for the manager. He was hoping to have him back after he missed last week's derby against Atlético Madrid that ended in a 1-1 draw, but that won't happen. Rüdiger is still suffering the consequences of a heavy collision with Mason Greenwood during the match against Getafe on February 1 and his recovery is taking longer than initially imagined.

What will Ancelotti do?

The Italian coach must now make a decision on how to replace Antonio Rüdiger. The team have had serious problems with centre-backs during the season, as Eder Militao and David Alaba underwent knee surgery and will be off the field for a long time, probably until the end of the season. In addition, Nacho is also ruled out due to physical problems and, best case scenario, will be back next week. The most likely option is for Dani Carvajal and Aurélien Tchouaméni to play there, although young Jacobo Ramón could also get a chance.