Dani Carvajal expected to miss rest of season with injury
By Tom Gott
Real Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal is expected to miss the remainder of the season after picking up a new hamstring injury during training.
The Spaniard has been plagued by injuries all season. He had only recently returned from a hamstring issue which he picked up just 28 minutes after coming back from a different muscle problem.
All in all, he has managed just 15 appearances in all competitions this season, and according to Onda Cero, he won't get the chance to add to that tally as a new hamstring injury in training is expected to end his season early.
He has been sent for further tests on the injury to determine the severity, but with just one month of the season left, there's almost no chance that he will be back before the campaign comes to a close.
The right-back spot is proving to be a real problem for Zinedine Zidane. Carvajal's extended injury struggles saw him use the versatile Lucas Vazquez in that position, only for him to suffer his own season-ending injury.
Instead of putting his faith in backup right-back Alvaro Odriozola, Zidane then turned to midfielder Federico Valverde, who played just one game in the position before being forced into isolation after coming into contact with a positive COVID-19 case.
With Valverde still not available, Zidane may have no choice to turn to Odriozola, although he will likely attempt to shift centre-backs Eder Militao or Nacho Fernandez out there if his options in the middle allow it.
Over on the left, Ferland Mendy is facing a race against time to recover from a calf injury in time for the Champions League semi-final second leg against Chelsea on May 5, but Zidane may not even have Marcelo to cover for him.
In a bizarre turn of events, Marcelo has been selected to serve at an election polling station the day before the game, and given the amount of people he could come into contact with, he may be banned from travelling with the team until he has served a period of isolation.
Real have tried to argue their case but are yet to have the decision overturned, so as it stands, Odriozola may be the only natural full-back available for the Chelsea game.