Real Madrid will be out to inflict another dose of Champions League heartache on Liverpool when they travel to Anfield for the first leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday night.
Los Blancos defeated the Reds 1-0 in the 2021-22 final and topped Group F ahead of RB Leipzig, Celtic and Shakhtar Donetsk to set up a swift reunion with the Merseyside powerhouses.
The reigning European champions travel to England on the back of a 2-0 La Liga victory over Osasuna, with Federico Valverde and Marco Asensio netting in the second half on Saturday night.
Here, Sports Mole rounds up Real Madrid's latest injury and suspension news ahead of their showdown with Liverpool, who will make the trip to the Bernabeu for the second leg on March 15.
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Status: Minor doubt
Type of injury: Muscular fatigue
Possible return date: February 21 (vs. Liverpool)
Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema, who has struggled for fitness all season, missed Saturday night's win over Osasuna as a precaution due to muscular fatigue, but Ancelotti is confident that he will be ready to start at Anfield.
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Status: Out
Type of injury: Illness
Possible return date: February 25 (vs. Atletico Madrid)
Toni Kroos has failed to make the squad for Real Madrid's last two games against Elche and Osasuna due to gastroenteritis, and the German has not recovered in time for the first leg either.
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Status: Out
Type of injury: Illness
Possible return date: February 25 (vs. Atletico Madrid)
Aurelien Tchouameni was a last-minute absentee from the squad to face Osasuna after contracting flu, and the Frenchman will also be forced to sit out the first leg in another major midfield blow for Ancelotti.
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Status: Out
Type of injury: Thigh
Possible return date: Unknown
Left-back Ferland Mendy is still recovering from the thigh injury that he sustained against Atletico Madrid towards the end of January, and the Frenchman is expected to miss both legs of this last-16 tie as he faces a few more weeks on the sidelines.
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Status: Out
Type of injury: Unspecified
Possible return date: Unknown
Out-of-favour striker Mariano Diaz picked up an unspecified problem in training before Saturday's win over Osasuna, and the 29-year-old will sit out the clash at Anfield as well.
REAL MADRID'S SUSPENSION LIST
Real Madrid have no players suspended for the first leg.
Ben Knapton
