The excitement is building! LaLiga football returned this weekend following a break of over two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Real Madrid returns to action on Sunday night (19:30 CET) at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano against SD Eibar, and Zinedine Zidane announced his 23-man matchday squad.
Lucas Vázquez is suffering from a muscular spasm and he’s not available for selection. Mariano, Nacho Fernandez, and Luka Jović are also missing from the list due to injuries. This is the largest Real Madrid league squad ever, all because of the new rules that allow up to five substitutions, but only within three stoppages. Twelve players can be also named on the bench, five more than before, giving Zidane more options.
There is plenty of excitement amongst the Madridistas, as Marco Asensio is included in the squad for the first time this season, having been out with a long-term ACL injury, alongside Eden Hazard, who suffered an ankle injury against Levante at the end of February and underwent surgery shortly before the coronavirus pandemic stopped football.
FULL SQUAD:
GOALKEEPERS: Alphonse Areola, Thibaut Courtois, Diego Altube.
DEFENDERS: Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Marcelo, Ferland Mendy, Javi Hernández.
MIDFIELDERS: Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Casemiro, Fede Valverde, James Rodriguez, Isco.
FORWARDS: Eden Hazard, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, Marco Asensio, Brahim, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo Goes.
