Fede Valverde will almost certainly miss the first leg of the Champions League between Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid. Only the Uruguayan’s desire to play could mean that we see him in tomorrow’s game, but there is a high risk that his injury will worsen.
Valverde wants to force it
According to what Grada3 has learned, Fede Valverde’s hamstring injury is causing uncertainty at Real Madrid ahead of the crucial match against Atlético de Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu in just over 24 hours. The Uruguayan has been suffering from discomfort since the match against Osasuna on February 15, and after having played in the Champions League against Manchester City he has been out of action for the last three matches.
Carlo Ancelotti‘s plan was for him to start against Atlético Madrid, but Valverde trained alone in Valdebebas on Sunday (a common practice in his physical state), which set off alarm bells, and it remains to be seen how he completes Monday’s session before the final decision is made.
At the Whites they know that having Valverde is key and his influence on the team is very important, whether he plays as a central midfielder or as a right back, where he has proven to be a clear solution to the problem of defense.
Valverde called up
What is clear is that Fede Valverde will be in the squad for the match. The idea is to narrow it down to the last moment to see if he can be in the starting eleven, if he will play any minutes during the match, or if he will not play at all. Ancelotti could consider giving him minutes if the match does not go Real Madrid’s way.
Real Madrid are in desperate need, and the last league game showed that the absence of Valverde means a drop in the intensity of the team. Given the absence of Ceballos and the poor performance of Lucas Vázquez, the participation of Valverde has become not only a prosperity, but also a necessity for a key player in the starting eleven, regardless of the position he occupies, be it full-back or midfielder.
Risk of relapse
Fede Valverde wants to play and he has made this clear to those around him and to Carlo Ancelotti. But the reality is that the hamstring injury he has been carrying for several weeks is not completely healed. A muscle injury that, if not properly healed, could recur, something that is not contemplated within the technical staff of the white team. Your participation is practically confirmed for the weekend and for the second leg, and losing the footballer for another month of competition could mean saying goodbye to LaLiga and the Champions League.
Last training session to make a decision
This Monday’s training session will be key to making a decision. We will have to see if he can complete the whole session with the group, see how he feels and, from there, see the latest developments until a few hours before the game.
Real Madrid are playing for their place in the next round of the Champions League, and they are doing so against none other than their neighbors, Atlético de Madrid, a key match this season where more than just a tie is at stake, a rivalry that no player wants to watch on TV.
The next few hours will be key in deciding whether or not Valverde plays, but at the moment, the coaching staff are very pessimistic about the Uruguayan’s participation in the match. The risk of a relapse is real and losing Valverde for this match is bad news, but so is losing him again for a month.