Gareth Bale is missing from the Real Madrid squad for the important Champions League game against Manchester City. But there’s plenty of room in the squad.
Zinédine Zidane will need to work with Real Madrid to close a 2-1 gap against Manchester City in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16. He needs a win. He needs at least two goals.
The Royal coach is still without star striker Gareth Bale. The Welshman has not made it into the 24-man squad that will make the trip to England. James Rodríguez is also missing from the list. Both are fit – but they simply no longer play a role in their coach’s considerations.
The non-nomination is not surprising, but it is likely to hurt the duo particularly.
For unlike the hated stars, Sergio Ramos will certainly be part of the squad that will board the plane to Manchester – even though he is not even eligible to play. The captain is suspended in the first leg after a red card – and still more important to Zidane than Bale or James.
Mariano Díaz, who is not yet eligible to rejoin the team after suffering from coronavirus, is also not in the game.