Problems mount for Real Madrid as Bale, Benzema get injured
The problems for Real Madrid seem to be never-ending as Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale have been added to the list of injured Los Blancos players. Real suffered a shocking loss to Deportivo Alaves as they continued their winless run to four matches. Presently they are second in the league table with Barcelona leading with a match in hand. Here are further details.
Lopetegui: Injuries limited what we could do
Benzema was substituted during half-time and Bale, later, asked to be replaced in the match that saw a stoppage-time goal by Manu Garcia help Alaves secure the win. Real only managed a single chance at goal in the first half via a Karim Benzema shot, which was cleared by Navarro. What was visibly lacking in Real's tactics was an ability to create more chances.
Down and out: The list of injured Real Madrid players
Real's problems have taken a steep climb after Benzema and Bale's injuries were confirmed by Julen himself. Isco will not return until his appendicitis surgery is complete, and Real's dependable left-back Marcelo is out with a calf injury, which he suffered during the match against Sevilla. Even Dani Carvajal is also out with a calf injury suffered during the defeat to Moscow.
What were the manager's comments and what next for Real?
After the match, Julen commented, "That's football, that's the way it goes, and today all the negatives came out. We have the international break now, so we can get back to what we're doing." Up next, Real face Levante on October 20 (La Liga) and Plzen on October 24 (Champions League). Lopetegui will hope Ceballos, Mariano and Vinicius Jr. step up to the occasion.
