Real Madrid defeated Getafe 2-0 in their La Liga match on Thursday at the Estadio Coliseum Stadium to go top of the table but the win came at a massive cost just three days before facing city-rivals Atletico Madrid.
Goals from on-loan striker Joselu Mato guided Los Blancos to a comfortable 2-0 win as Carlo Ancelotti’s men went past Girona to sit as table-toppers during the weekend.
The Whites face Atletico Madrid on Sunday (February 4), but they will be without one of the key players, Aurelien Tchouameni, who received a yellow card just before the final whistle as he received his fifth suspension in the league.
The Frenchman was booked at the 92nd minute for a chance that was later called offside, and as per sources close to the club, no one understood the decision and have decided to appeal.
On the other hand, Antonio Rudiger suffered a knock on his thigh during the first half. The German tackled to win the ball against Mason Greenwood but ended up hitting his thigh to the opponent’s knee and was ultimately substituted.
The extent of the 30-year-old’s injury is not known yet but as of now, everything indicates that he will not be participating in the Madrid derby at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday night.
Speaking after the match, Ancelotti opened up on Tchouameni’s booking saying he had no idea what happened.
"I don't know what happened, he got the card and Tchouameni won't be available for the next game,” the Italian said after the match. “Rudiger has a knock and we'll see what happens in the next few days.
“We have two days for him to recover. It's a severe blow to the muscle. Rudiger is a warrior and it's complicated that he won't make the game because of a little discomfort.”
If Rudiger doesn’t make it to the Madrid derby, Ancelotti will play Ferland Mendy alongside Nacho Fernandez.
Remember, Real Madrid are already without two of their first-choice centre-backs, Eder Militao and David Alaba, as both the players tore their ACL earlier this season.