Real Madrid were handed a huge reality check on Tuesday night as they fell to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie.
The three-goal deficit leaves Los Blancos with a huge mountain to climb at the Santiago Bernabeu in the second leg if they are to turn things around and secure a place in the semi-finals.
However, like they did on Tuesday night, Real Madrid will once again have to go into the Arsenal clash without the services of Ferland Mendy, reports The Athletic’s Guillermo Rai.
The French left-back has been out of action since last month when he suffered an injury during the Champions League Round of 16 clash against Atletico Madrid.
Initially, it was expected that Mendy would be back in time for the first leg against Arsenal at the Emirates but it was not to be.
However, there were expectations that the former Olympique Lyon ace will recover and be ready to face the Gunners in the second leg of the quarter-finals at the Santiago Bernabeu next Wednesday.
But, as per the journalist, club sources inform that Mendy is ‘not in the equation’ for the home match next week, which comes as a big blow for Real Madrid.
The report also adds that there are no fresh injuries for the Merengues which will come as a relief after a couple of players finished Tuesday’s match with minor knocks.
However, Mendy’s absence will pose a major concern as Ancelotti does not fully trust Fran Garcia for big games and David Alaba struggled against Bukayo Saka on Tuesday.
Eduardo Camavinga, who has been used as a makeshift left-back by the manager, is suspended after receiving a red card.
So, it will certainly be interesting to see how Ancelotti manages to plug the gap at left-back against Arsenal next week.