Real Madrid have been hit with a fresh blow after losing Aurelien Tchouameni to injury following back-to-back defeats to Barcelona and AC Milan.
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Tchouameni suffers sprained ankleSet for spell on sidelinesReal Madrid have lost two on the bounceFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Carlo Ancelotti's side are in the spotlight after hitting a slump in form. Los Blancos were hammered 4-0 by Barcelona in El Clasico and followed that up with a 3-1 defeat to AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday, with their La Liga clash with Valencia postponed in between. The Italian is now under pressure to reverse his team's fortunes but has been hit with a further blow as Tchouameni has been sidelined with an ankle injury after being forced off at half-time of the defeat to Milan.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT REAL MADRID SAID
A club statement read: "After the tests carried out today on our player Aurelien Tchouameni by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a sprained left ankle. Evolution pending."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Tchouameni has been criticised this season but his absence will be an issue as the French star is a versatile player who has featured both in defence and midfield for Madrid. He now joins Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba, Dani Carvajal and Rodrygo on the club's injury list, leaving Ancelotti short of options at the back. Real Madrid also have problems in attack where summer signing Kylian Mbappe is yet to show his very best form at the Santiago Bernabeu and Jude Bellingham has not scored all season. Meanwhile, Fede Valverde's wife slammed Ancelotti in a hastily-deleted social media post that read "when will they f*cking understand for once and for all that Fede is not a winger?”
GettyDID YOU KNOW?
Real Madrid have lost consecutive home games while conceding at least three goals in each for the first time in all competitions since May 2009 under Juande Ramos.