Real Madrid have named their 23-man squad for the 2019/20 Supercopa de España that will be played in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia over the coming few days.
Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, and Eden Hazard are notable absentees, but Marcelo and James Rodriguez have both made the cut after recent injury spells out of the team.
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Benzema has led the line for Real this season, even captaining the side in the 3-0 La Liga win over Getafe on Saturday. However, a suspected hamstring problem has ruled the long serving Frenchman out of the trip to mid-season competition.
Bale also played 90 minutes against Getafe. The Welsh forward has suffered with calf and thigh injuries so far this season, but it is illness that keeps him out of action this time. Following medical tests Bale has been diagnose with a chest infection and will be monitored.
Hazard, meanwhile, has been sidelined since the end of November with a hairline fracture in his foot and isn’t expected to return to action until later this month. It has been an injury hit debut season for the €100m summer signing and he’s played just 13 times in all competitions.
Despite key absences, the return of Marcelo is a boost for Real The Brazilian full-back hasn’t played since November because of a calf issue and had suffered a neck injury before that in September. The returning James has been out since October because of a ligament problem.
Real Madrid Squad for 2019/20 Supercopa de España:
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Alphonse Areola, Diego Altube
Defenders: Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Nacho, Marcelo, Alvaro Odriozola, Ferland Mendy
Midfielders: Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Casemiro, Fede Valverde, James Rodriguez, Isco
Forwards: Lucas Vazquez, Luka Jovic, Brahim, Mariano, Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo
Real will play their first match of the Supercopa against Valencia on 8th January. The winner of the contest will then advance to the final to face either Barcelona or Atletico Madrid. The new format is the first time since the Supercopa’s inception in 1982 that it hasn’t simply been a two-legged affair between just two clubs.
