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Preview: Defense a problem as Real Madrid entertain Sevilla

Xinhua,December 08, 2017 Adjust font size:

MADRID, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane will have to make wholesale changes to his side's defense when they entertain Sevilla on Saturday afternoon.

Although cameras will be on Cristiano Ronaldo and his Balon' D' Or before the game (won despite Ronaldo having scored just two league goals this season), it is the defense that is likely to be the main issue in the game.

Sergio Ramos' deserved sending off in Bilbao last weekend came at the worst possible time as Dani Carvajal and Casemiro had previously seen their fifth yellow cards of the season and they are also suspended for Saturday.

Things got worse for Zidane during the week, when Jesus Vallejo pulled up in training on Tuesday with a muscle problem and Rafael Varene limped out of their 3-2 win against Borussia Dortmund through injury.

That leaves Zidane with just Nacho Fernandez as his only available central defender, while Casemiro, who would have been able to fill the gap, is also unavailable. Marcelo and youngster Achraf Hakimi will play at full backs but Zidane needs a solution in central defense, which may come through Marcos Llorente or a B-team player such as Manu Hernando.

The good news for Zidane is that Gareth Bale has been training, but whether he is risked from the start is another matter.

Sevilla meanwhile travel with Ernesto Marcucci on the dugout as Eduardo Berizzo continues his recovery from a cancer operation.

They travel to the Santiago Bernabeu level on points with Real Madrid and after assuring their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with a draw away to Slovenian side, Maribor on Wednesday night.

That means they have had 24 hours less to prepare the game than Madrid, which is a disadvantage, but with players such as Wissam Ben Yedder and Joaquim Correa will cause problems for the Madrid defense, while the return of Simon Kjaer gives Marcucci more options in defense, even though Steven N' Zonzi is out of the quad due to disciplinary issues. Enditem

 

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