Real Madrid missing seven players for Cadiz clash

Real Madrid will be without the services of seven first-team players for Sunday's clash with Cadiz.

Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao remain long-term absentees for the Spanish giants due to serious knee injuries, which both occurred in August.

Arda Guler, meanwhile, is yet to make his debut for Los Blancos due to three separate injury problems, and the Turkey international remains unavailable for selection.

Aurelien Tchouameni remains sidelined due to the broken foot that he suffered in El Clasico, and Kepa Arrizabalaga is also out despite recently returning to training, with the on-loan Chelsea goalkeeper bidding to recover from a thigh issue which he picked up earlier this month.

Kepa's absence means that Andriy Lunin will again feature between the sticks, with the Ukrainian currently benefiting from the injuries to Courtois and Kepa.

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Real Madrid suffered two major blows during the international break, meanwhile, with Eduardo Camavinga and Vinicius Junior both picking up injuries.

Camavinga is out until at least the middle of January due to a knee ligament injury, and Vinicius will be absent until the end of the same month due to a serious thigh injury.

There is positive news on the injury front, though, as Jude Bellingham is back in the squad, having recovered from the shoulder issue that he picked up against Rayo Vallecano earlier this month.

Bellingham has missed Real Madrid's last two games, while he was also not able to represent England during the international break, but the team's leading goalscorer this season is available against Cadiz.

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Head coach Carlo Ancelotti has also been able to select Rodrygo, with the forward overcoming the minor knee issue which he suffered while representing Brazil.

Dani Ceballos has recently been sidelined due to a muscular issue, but the Spaniard, who has only made four appearances this season, is also in the squad for this contest.

Nico Paz and Gonzalo Garcia have benefited from the injuries to be named in the first-team squad, while there is also a spot for defensive midfielder Mario Martin.

There had been some concern over the availability of Federico Valverde due to his travelling over the international break, but the midfielder is in the squad.

Real Madrid, who recorded a 5-1 win over Valencia before the international break, are currently second in the La Liga table, two points behind leaders Girona.

Real Madrid squad vs. Cadiz:

Lunin, Pineiro, Fran; Carvajal, Alaba, Nacho, Vazquez, F Garcia, Rudiger, Mendy; Bellingham, Kroos, Modric, Valverde, Ceballos, Martin, Paz; Rodrygo, Joselu, Brahim, Gonzalo