Arsenal\u2019s commanding 3\u20130 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final may yet face a sterner challenge in the return leg, but Carlo Ancelotti\u2018s options are narrowing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following Tuesday\u2019s game, Madrid now face new availability concerns with two key updates on players ahead of the second leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most significant confirmed absentee is Eduardo Camavinga, who received a yellow card in the 69th minute and was sent off for kicking the ball away in the 94th. His red card suspension rules him out of the second leg. The first yellow was also enough to do that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But as AS reported on Thursday, the situation surrounding others is becoming clearer, and bleaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite early optimism that Ferland Mendy and Dani Ceballos would recover in time to feature, AS confirms that Mendy has been definitively ruled out of the second leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The left-back suffered a hamstring injury and will not be available for Wednesday\u2019s clash at the Santiago Bernab\u00e9u.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, hopes that former Arsenal midfielder Dani Ceballos might return are also fading. While he has resumed training and even participated in a light session this week, the club now views his participation against Arsenal as \u201calmost impossible,\u201d according to AS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ancelotti had initially hoped to have Ceballos back in the squad after he missed the first leg, but his body has reportedly not responded as expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This restricts Madrid\u2019s midfield depth, especially with Camavinga suspended and ongoing doubts over Federico Valverde, who finished the Emirates fixture in discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Valverde, along with David Alaba, is undergoing further assessment. Though neither are believed to have suffered serious injuries, their fitness for the second leg remains uncertain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One bright spot for Real Madrid is the return of Aur\u00e9lien Tchouam\u00e9ni, who was suspended for the first leg but will be eligible to feature next week. It remains to be seen whether Ancelotti will opt to start him alongside 39-year-old Luka Modri\u0107, who struggled with the intensity and physicality of Arsenal\u2019s midfield in London.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Elsewhere, goalkeeper Andriy Lunin is back in full training following soleus muscle issues and could take his place on the bench.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite their dominant position, Mikel Arteta and his side are taking nothing for granted. Madrid may be bruised, depleted, and reeling, but as history has shown time and again, the Champions League is a competition that rarely allows for complacency, least of all against Real Madrid in their own backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Source: dailycannon<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Arsenal\u2019s commanding 3\u20130 victory over Real Madrid in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final may yet face a sterner challenge in the return leg, but Carlo Ancelotti\u2018s options are narrowing. Following Tuesday\u2019s game, Madrid now face new availability concerns with two key updates on players ahead of the second leg. The most …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5610,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5609","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-la-liga"],"yoast_head":"\n