Real Madrid rocked by late absences: Rüdiger, Carvajal, Ceballos miss final session ahead of tomorrow

On the eve of kickoff, Real Madrid’s final training session flagged a fresh crisis: Antonio Rüdiger, Dani Carvajal and Dani Ceballos were all absent from the group, raising significant doubts over their availability. The list doing the rounds oddly included non-Madrid names, but the core takeaway is clear—Los Blancos approach tomorrow’s match with a threadbare back line and reduced midfield depth. From a rival analyst’s lens, Madrid’s right flank and aerial security look immediately targetable. Even with Kylian Mbappé fit, the balance of the XI is skewed, forcing makeshift solutions and tactical compromises at the worst possible time.

Absences were noted during Real Madrid’s final pre-match session at Valdebebas ahead of tomorrow’s fixture. Multiple senior players—most notably Antonio Rüdiger, Dani Carvajal and Dani Ceballos—did not join the main group, prompting late selection uncertainty. While a circulated list also referenced players from other clubs, the Madrid-specific takeaway centers on defensive and rotational gaps just before squad selection is finalized.

Final training session ahead of tomorrow's game: ❌️ Huijsen ❌️ Rüdiger ❌️ Carvajal ❌️ Trent ❌️ Ceballos

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

From a rival’s viewpoint, this is exactly the fracture line opponents wait for. Rüdiger’s no-show strips Madrid of their most durable and aggressive center-back, the organizer who leads duels and sets the aerial tone on set pieces. Without Carvajal, Ancelotti either burns a forward-leaning utility option like Lucas Vázquez at right-back or reshuffles with a suboptimal profile, sacrificing either defensive stability or ball progression. Ceballos’ absence narrows rotation, reduces press resistance off the bench, and forces extra minutes on already heavy-legged starters.

Tactically, Madrid’s pressing structure and rest-defense hinge on the timing and physicality of the back line. Remove Rüdiger’s anticipation and Carvajal’s cover in wide-to-halfspace transitions, and the dominoes fall: the double pivot must sit deeper, wingers track more, and Mbappé’s starting position becomes more conservative to help protect the channel behind the right-back. That blunts Madrid’s most devastating weapon—early vertical releases to Mbappé in space.

In short, Madrid’s margins shrink. The opposition game plan becomes simpler: overload Madrid’s right, spam switches and second balls, and hammer set-pieces. Even if one of the absentees makes a late squad, sharpness won’t match the intensity required. Competitive advantage tilts away from Madrid before a ball is kicked.

Reaction

Fan sentiment split quickly. Pragmatic voices shrugged that “as long as Mbappé is fit, Madrid will be fine,” reflecting confidence that one superstar can paper over cracks. Others leaned into gallows humor—quipping that Madrid should “endorse a hospital” given how often defenders are sidelined—signaling fatigue with recurring soft-tissue issues. A few doubted the severity, hoping it’s “nothing serious,” yet the trend of muscle overloads, especially for rotation pieces like Ceballos, fueled skepticism.

There was also tactical anxiety: supporters flagged how a Carvajal absence removes a senior organizer on the right, leaving Madrid vulnerable to quick diagonals. Optimists countered that Madrid’s depth can grind through one match, citing makeshift solutions and the squad’s habit of surviving adversity. Still, even the upbeat posts hinted at unease with a “tough lineup” looming.

One tongue-in-cheek comment invoked managerial myths, but the underlying theme was clear: faith in Mbappé’s match-winning edge coexists with real fear that the defensive unit—already patched together—cannot absorb another blow. The discourse, in numbers and tone, leans wary resignation over outright panic.

Social reactions

Big injury blow but squad still ready to fight 💪⚽

Olivia (@Olivia0945)

Hope it’s nothing serious

Big “R” (@Ahbokii)

what is the starting 11 for EL CLASSICO?

GOAT_STREAMZ (@Streamz_Goat)

Prediction

Expect conservative risk management from Madrid, which translates to delayed returns rather than accelerated comebacks. Reading the pattern of late-session absences, the likeliest short-term path is a cobbled back line: Militao as the linchpin, heavy minutes for makeshift full-backs, and Tchouaméni on emergency duty if required. That setup invites territorial pressure against Madrid’s right and aerial contests Madrid are less equipped to dominate without Rüdiger.

In possession, the staff will trim the vertical risk. Madrid may accept slower circulation, prioritize rest-defense shapes, and reduce full-back overlap volume to keep transition protection intact. That, however, tempers Mbappé’s early run threat and forces more half-space combinations instead of breakaway sprints—still dangerous, but less explosive.

Timeline-wise—and this is the ruthless rival read—don’t expect quick fixes. Even if “available,” sharpness lags a week or two for defenders managing loads. Ceballos’ muscle history suggests stop-start availability rather than a clean return. Net result: opponents should target set-plays, second phases, and wide isolations for at least the next couple of matches, with Madrid relying on individual brilliance to bail out structural compromises.

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Conclusion

Strip away the noise, and the competitive picture is brutal for Madrid: late absences in defense degrade structure, passing lanes, and set-piece resilience all at once. The squad can win on moments—few teams boast Mbappé’s gravity—but the scaffolding around those moments matters most in tight matches. Without Rüdiger’s command and Carvajal’s guidance, the error bars widen.

From a rival standpoint, this is the exact window to press high on Madrid’s right, attack early crosses, and force them into handbrake football. Even if last-minute green lights arrive, caution will cap minutes and intensity. The medium-term outlook is equally awkward: managing loads will prolong the drip-feed of availability, compromising continuity. Until Madrid restores a settled back five (including the pivot shielding them), they’ll live on a knife-edge—capable of brilliance, vulnerable on basics. That’s the kind of imbalance opponents dream of exploiting.