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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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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

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Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

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Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

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Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

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Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

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Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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