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Real Madrid missing just one player for Barcelona contest

Real Madrid missing just one player for Barcelona contest
© Reuters
Ferland Mendy is Real Madrid's only absentee for Wednesday's Copa del Rey semi-final second leg with Barcelona.

Real Madrid have just one absentee for Wednesday's Copa del Rey semi-final second leg with Barcelona.

Ferland Mendy is likely to be out for the rest of the month with a calf problem, but Antonio Rudiger has recovered from the knee issue that saw him miss out against Real Valladolid at the weekend.

There were fears that Rudiger could miss out at Camp Nou, having picked up the problem during a training session ahead of the team's last league match.

However, the Germany international has been passed fit to return for the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final with Barcelona at Camp Nou.

"Antonio is fine. Yesterday he trained alone and today he trained with us," Los Blancos head coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters during his pre-match press conference.

Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger celebrates scoring against Mallorca on September 11, 2022© Reuters

Nacho is also back in the squad, having missed out against Real Valladolid last time out through suspension, while Mariano Diaz has overcome a muscular issue to return for El Clasico.

Youngster Alvaro Rodriguez has not been called up, with Mariano, Eden Hazard, Marco Asensio, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Karim Benzema the options in the final third of the field.

Real Madrid suffered a 1-0 defeat in the first leg of the semi-final, meaning that they have work to do in order to advance to the final of the competition.

Ancelotti's side will enter this match full of confidence, though, following their 6-0 victory over Real Valladolid, which included three goals for Benzema.

"We are doing well. Motivated, focused and going all out for the game. We have a lot of confidence," Ancelotti told reporters on Tuesday.

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema celebrates scoring against Liverpool on March 15, 2023© Reuters

"The Clasico is always the most important match. For everyone. And that's because there is a very important rivalry. It's a game that allows us to play a final and we'll do everything we can to win it.

"It's important to have energy in this type of game. You also have to get the ball out from the back well but you also have to have experience and that's where the veterans can help us, but there are many important aspects.

"The idea is not to go crazy looking for a goal because you can do that in the 90th minute. In the first leg, we controlled the game well although we didn't get forward much and we have to improve on that, but we're not going to go crazy.

"The team must play a complete game because that's the only way you know you're going to score goals."

Real Madrid have won the Copa del Rey on 19 occasions, although they have not managed to lift the trophy since 2014.

Real Madrid squad vs. Barcelona:

Courtois, Lunin, Lopez; Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Vallejo, Nacho, Odriozola, Vazquez, Rudiger; Kroos, Modric, Camavinga, Valverde, Ceballos, Tchouameni; Hazard, Benzema, Asensio, Vinicius, Rodrygo, Mariano

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Written by
Matt Law

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona18122450203038
2Atletico MadridAtletico17115131112038
3Real Madrid17114237162137
4Athletic Bilbao1896327161133
5Mallorca188371821-327
6Villarreal167542827126
7Real Sociedad177461611525
8Osasuna176742225-325
9Real BetisBetis176652021-124
10GironaGirona176472325-222
11Sevilla176471823-522
12Celta Vigo176382528-321
13Rayo Vallecano165561819-120
14Las PalmasLas Palmas175482227-519
15Leganes174671523-818
16Getafe173771114-316
17AlavesAlaves174491928-916
18Espanyol1642101528-1314
19Real ValladolidValladolid1733111234-2212
20Valencia152491323-1010


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