Carlo Ancelotti confirms three Real Madrid starters vs Man City are injury doubts for second leg

Carlo Ancelotti has revealed David Alaba, Rodrygo and Karim Benzema are major doubts for Real Madrid’s Champions League second leg against Manchester City next week.

The sides are set to lock horns in the semi-final at the Etihad on Wednesday after they drew 1-1 in the Spanish capital in the first meeting earlier this week, with Vinicius Junior and Kevin De Bruyne on target

Alaba, Rodrygo and Benzema all started at the Bernabeu but, after sitting out of Friday’s training, Ancelotti revealed the trio will not play against Getafe this weekend and might miss out on the trip to Manchester next week.

“We are quite good,” the ex-Chelsea and Everton manager said on Friday. "We have some doubts with some footballers who received knocks in Tuesday’s game. Benzema, Alaba and Rodrygo have still not recovered.”

The absences of Rodrygo and Benzema are particularly concerning for Madrid, although Alaba is not a definite starter given Eder Militao could come into the team after he was suspended for the first leg.

"[Dani] Ceballos and [Ferland] Mendy return, they can play tomorrow,” Ancelotti added on his squad depth. “The team is good and motivated to win tomorrow. The players who have doubts in tomorrow’s game are not going to play… and the mission is to recover them for that game [at City]. The physical ‘issue’ does not exist.”

Ancelotti also confirmed he will not make wholesale changes against Getafe and will play Thibaut Courtois and Vinicius. Madrid have little to play for in La Liga given Barcelona could be confirmed as champions this weekend and Los Blancos spot in the Champions League is all but confirmed.