Four players absent from Real Madrid squad for Spanish Super Cup

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 09 January 2024

Real Madrid will be missing injured quartet Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao, David Alaba and Lucas Vazquez for the Spanish Super Cup.

Real Madrid will take part in this year's Spanish Super Cup without injured quartet Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao, David Alaba and Lucas Vazquez.

Courtois and Militao have both been missing since August, with the pair suffering severe knee injuries, although the duo are expected to be available for selection before the end of the campaign.

Alaba, though, will not feature for Los Blancos until next term, as the Austria international suffered an ACL injury shortly before the winter break in Spain.

Vazquez is also currently on the sidelines for Carlo Ancelotti's side, having suffered a hamstring problem which is likely to keep him out until the end of the month.

Real Madrid's Eder Militao walks off after suffering an injury against Athletic Bilbao on August 12, 2023 © Reuters

There is positive news on the injury front, though, with Ferland Mendy, who trained on Monday, named in the squad after recovering from a muscular issue.

Eduardo Camavinga is also included despite fears that he had suffered an injury setback on his return from a knee problem against Arandina in the Copa del Rey on Saturday.

Aurelien Tchouameni, Toni Kroos and Vinicius Junior were not involved in the team's last match in the cup, but the trio, as expected, are in the squad for the Spanish Super Cup.

A 24-man list also includes youngsters Vinicius Tobias, Alvaro Carrillo, Nico Paz and Mario Martin, but there is no spot in the squad for Alvaro Rodriguez.

Ancelotti again has a big decision to make between the sticks, with Andriy Lunin and Kepa Arrizabalaga battling to be the team's number one goalkeeper in Courtois's absence.

Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Junior on September 27, 2023 © Reuters

Real Madrid will take on Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup on Wednesday evening ahead of a potential final against either Barcelona or Osasuna on Sunday.

Los Blancos will enter their last-four clash with Diego Simeone's side off the back of five straight wins in all competitions, including two victories at the start of 2024.

Real Madrid are top of the La Liga table on 48 points, while they have progressed to the last-16 stage of the Champions League and are also still active in the Copa del Rey.

The capital outfit are the second-most successful side in the history of the Spanish Super Cup, winning the competition on 12 occasions, but they were beaten 3-1 by Barcelona in last season's final.

Full Real Madrid squad for Spanish Super Cup:

Lunin, Kepa, Fran; Carvajal, Nacho, F Garcia, Rudiger, Mendy, Carrillo, Tobias; Bellingham, Kroos, Modric, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni, Ceballos, Guler, Martin, Paz; Vinicius, Rodrygo, Joselu, Brahim