Madrid travel to Russia for their second Champions League group game
Real Madrid will be without four of their most important players for their away trip to CSKA Moscow in the Champions League this week.
Gareth Bale will miss the game after sustaining a groin injury during the Madrid derby at the weekend, which finished 0-0 with Madrid and Atlético taking a point each. Bale was substituted at half time for Dani Ceballos after informing manager Julen Lopetegui of pain in his groin at the break. The Welshman will therefore not travel to Moscow.
Madrid captain Sergio Ramos will also be absent, as Lopetegui opts to rest his most experienced defender, confident that Raphael Varane and Nacho can marshal the backline in his absence.
Marcelo and Isco remain unavailable – the former is battling a calf injury while Isco has an appendicitis. However Álvaro Odriozola, signed from Real Sociedad in the summer, returns to the squad after being left out at the weekend.
Youngsters Vinicius Jr, who made his senior debut for the club on Saturday night, and Sergio Reguilón are again included, with Fede Valverde also travelling to Moscow.
Real Madrid squad to face CSKA Moscow:
Goalkeepers: Navas, Casilla and Courtois.
Defenders: Carvajal, Vallejo, Varane, Nacho, Odriozola and Reguilón.
Midfielders: Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, Valverde, Marcos Llorente, Asensio and Ceballos.
Forwards: Mariano, Benzema, Lucas Vázquez and Vinicius
Madrid won their first Champions League game this season 3-0 against AS Roma at the Bernabéu, with goals coming from Isco, Bale and a stunner in injury time from Mariano Diaz.
Lopetegui will be counting on some of the less experienced members of the squad to repeat these heroics on Tuesday night.
