Real Madrid's backup plan: Injury replacements who can help Ronaldo
Reigning European champion Real Madrid received more bad news on Tuesday when it revealed that Karim Benzema would be unavailable for Wednesday’s clash with Atletico Madrid due to a sprained MCL in his right knee. With Benzema, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric all lost to injuries in the past few days, manager Carlo Ancelotti has decisions to make as his team heads into the second leg of a crunch-time tie against a side it has failed to beat in seven meetings since winning the 2014 Champions League final last May.
“We have to find solutions to some absences,” admitted the manager to Radio Anch’io earlier this week.
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Ancelotti can take heart in the fact that he’ll still be able to call upon Cristiano Ronaldo. But the question is, with two thirds of the "BBC" now missing, who can step up to aid the Portuguese superstar in attack?
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Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez is the most obvious choice to fill in for Benzema. The Mexican international has regularly understudied the Frenchman this season, finding the back of the net four times in the process. He came on last weekend in La Liga for the injured Bale, later setting up Real’s third goal just when Malaga was pushing for an equalizer. Two-footed and quick, Hernandez possesses poacher instincts that could prove decisive in a match that’s likely to be decided by slim margins.
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It's not entirely clear whether the diminutive Chicharito is the right kind of striker to take on Atletico’s physically confrontational defenders. But with Ancelotti’s options limited up top, the on-loan Manchester United man is likely to get his chance.
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Jese Rodriguez could be another option. Although after undergoing ACL surgery, the young Spanish forward has struggled to regain his excellent form of last season. Ancelotti might also prefer to deploy the 22-year-old out on the wing in Bale’s absence.
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Isco would be the other obvious choice to fill in for Bale. While he lacks the Welsh winger’s blistering pace, Isco has shown himself to be more willing to lend a hand on the defensive side of things than Bale typically is. This could come in handy against Atleti, and possibly free up James Rodriguez to play a more attacking role. The Colombian World Cup star was on-target against Malaga, and having been relegated to a deeper role at Real this season, this could be his chance to remind the world of the attacking prowess he displayed in Brazil last summer.
Solving the Modric problem is less straightforward. Real struggled without the Croat during his previous injury layoff this season, particularly in February’s 4-0 loss to Atleti when the likes of Sami Khedira, Toni Kroos and Isco were torn apart by a rampant Atletico midfield. Asier Illarramendi replaced Modric against Malaga and made a reasonably good account of himself. The Basque midfielder seems a more likely option to face Atleti than Sami Khedira, who is expected to leave Real at the end of the season and whose relationship with the club has reportedly broken down.
Ancelotti will also have to make do without the suspended Marcelo, meaning Fabio Coentrao is likely to deputize at left back.
The Italian has been downplaying the significance of losing so many key players ahead of such a big match and choosing to keep his cards close to the chest in terms of his lineup selection. But whatever solutions Ancelotti comes up with, he needs to come up with them quickly. Real Madrid’s season, and quite possibly his future at the club, hangs in the balance.
