Real Madrid training scare: Alaba and Rüdiger miss session ahead of El Clásico

Real Madrid’s final preparations took a jolt as David Alaba and Antonio Rüdiger did not take part in the latest training session, raising urgent availability doubts ahead of Sunday’s El Clásico. Early indications suggest Carlo Ancelotti could pivot to a Militão–Leny Yoro partnership if neither senior left-footer nor the current defensive leader is cleared. Fans highlighted Luka Modrić’s form and expect a Camavinga–Tchouaméni double pivot to stabilize transitions, while Kylian Mbappé underlined his intent to win, not just play, the clásico. Madrid’s staff now face a compressed decision window on fitness, match rhythm, and risk management.

The absence emerged during a first-team workout at Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training complex in the build-up to Sunday’s El Clásico. Local Madrid-based reporters flagged that neither David Alaba nor Antonio Rüdiger took part in the group’s on-pitch segment. With the technical staff already shaping the match plan for Barcelona, attention turned to emergency center-back configurations and midfield protection, particularly after recent praise for Luka Modrić and indications that Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni could start together. The session arrived at a pivotal moment in the league calendar, with squad status closely monitored.

🚨 Real Madrid training, ❌ Alaba and Rüdiger. @MarioCortegana

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

Rüdiger’s absence removes Madrid’s most dominant active aerial presence and the primary organizer of the back line. He leads the team in defensive duels won and head-clearance volume per 90 across big matches, and his vocal marshalling is key to holding a high line. Without him, Eder Militão shoulders the 1v1 isolation burden against vertical balls and counters, a role he thrives in athletically but which requires clean timing after his long return to rhythm. If Alaba also misses out, Madrid lose their only natural left-footed build-out conduit from center-back, typically responsible for progressive diagonals into the left half-space.

Leny Yoro offers elite anticipation and calm passing under pressure, but pairing him with Militão shifts responsibility distribution: Militão must attack depth, while Yoro covers inside lanes and manages first-phase circulation. Expect Ancelotti to compensate with a double pivot (Camavinga–Tchouaméni) to protect Zone 14 and compress the gap between lines. Full-backs may be asked to stage deeper for rest defense, curbing overlap volume to prevent wide-to-inside switches from Barcelona’s right (where Lamine Yamal can invert and combine).

In possession, the lack of a left-footed CB could tilt progression to the right, accentuating Modrić’s side and Mbappé’s out-to-in runs off the left channel. Set pieces take a hit without Rüdiger’s gravity; Madrid may reassign screens and near-post darts to Militão and Tchouaméni. Overall, the defensive ceiling narrows slightly, but structural tweaks can preserve control if executed cleanly.

Reaction

Fan sentiment split quickly. A vocal segment lamented the goals problem rather than the back line, arguing that a clean sheet means little without conversion—and with renewed anxiety that absences at center-back could force a conservative approach, further suppressing chance volume. Others preached calm, pointing to Modrić’s recent man-of-the-match display as evidence Madrid can control tempo and supply the front line, even with a patched defense.

Optimists highlighted depth: Militão’s recovery arc and Yoro’s poise were cited as adequate insurance, with some calling the French teenager’s composure a decisive asset against Barça’s press triggers. There was also confidence in a Camavinga–Tchouaméni start, framed as the most athletic, ball-winning pairing Madrid can field, ideal for strangling transitions.

Meanwhile, rival fans mocked the situation, framing it as a decisive momentum swing, but Madridistas countered that big-match mentality and home-prep sharpness often outweigh last-minute absences. The Mbappé quote about not merely playing but winning El Clásico circulated widely, energizing the timeline. Even so, threads on set-piece impact without Rüdiger gained traction, with users sharing heatmaps and duel charts to argue that replacing his physical presence is the single biggest short-term headache.

Social reactions

At least we have huijsen

Damian🦅 (@Damianfx_)

There shouldn't be joy. They can't score goals and that should be a headache

PES (fan) (@Pes_footy)

They are still injure #เขมจิราต้องรอดseries #patlama #LoveYourW

𝗔𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 (@utd_arrow7)

Prediction

If medical assessments keep Rüdiger out, Madrid likely lock into a risk-managed 4-3-3 with a pseudo-double pivot: Camavinga and Tchouaméni anchoring, Modrić higher to connect with Mbappé’s diagonal bursts. The center-back pairing projects as Militão–Yoro, with instructions for narrower full-back positioning and a slightly lower rest defense line to deter balls in behind. Expect a set-piece redesign prioritizing near-post flick-ons from Militão and late-arrival lanes for Tchouaméni.

Should Rüdiger be cleared late, Madrid can restore their standard high-line aggression and stronger aerial dominance, freeing full-backs to overlap and allowing broader rotations to pin Barça’s wingers. If Alaba alone returns, his left-footed distribution improves Madrid’s press resistance and switches into Mbappé’s run zone, though aerial metrics still dip without Rüdiger.

Scenario tree: (1) Neither starts—Madrid win condition hinges on transition control and Mbappé’s efficiency; a 1-0 or 2-1 grind becomes likeliest. (2) Only Rüdiger starts—defensive stability surges; Madrid can press higher, favoring a 2-0 or 2-1. (3) Both start—Madrid’s peak structure returns; chance creation widens, and a multi-goal margin is plausible. Across all paths, Modrić’s tempo-setting remains the swing factor. Expect conservative early phases, then targeted accelerations once ball progression patterns stabilize.

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Conclusion

Real Madrid have been here before: a late-week curveball forcing structural clarity. The double absence at training is a shock, but not a strategic collapse. Ancelotti retains enough levers—pivot density, full-back restraint, and Mbappé’s vertical gravity—to bend the match toward Madrid’s terms. The price is margin for error: rest-defense spacing and set-piece coverage must be immaculate without Rüdiger’s organizing presence, and first-phase exits may skew right-sided without Alaba’s left-footed lanes.

Yet the squad’s ceiling remains intact. Militão’s recovery arc aligns with a high-stakes assignment; Yoro’s composure offers low-variance decision-making; and a Camavinga–Tchouaméni axis can suffocate counters while feeding Modrić in advantageous pockets. With El Clásico emotions running hot, Madrid’s edge lies in controlled aggression rather than volume chaos. If fitness clears even one of the two defenders, the tactical puzzle simplifies dramatically.

Bottom line: fitness updates will define the pre-match narrative, but Madrid’s adaptability, form of key leaders, and Mbappé’s match-winning profile keep them marginal favorites. The data leans toward a narrow, controlled result—if the defensive structure holds and the first goal comes in white.