Rafa Benitez is sweating on the fitness of several key players ahead of Real Madrid’s table-topping La Liga trip to in-form Celta Vigo on Saturday afternoon.
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As their injury-hit start to the season continues, Los Blancos will definitely be without the injured quintet of Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, Pepe, Dani Carvajal and Karim Benzema.
And they could also be missing Mateo Kovacic and Sergio Ramos, who is still nursing a lingering shoulder injury despite playing the full 90 minutes of Wednesday’s encouraging goalless Champions League draw against Paris Saint-Germain.
One positive piece of news for Benitez is that key midfielder Luka Modric is now fit and available to start after overcoming a groin injury, and the Bernabeu boss said he will make a late decision over the availability of the doubtful trio.
“We will see how they are,” he said. “With Kovacic and Sergio, the decision will depend on how many risks we want to take and the needs of the team.”
Both teams are heading into Saturday’s game unbeaten, joint top of the league standings with 18 points after amassing five victories and three draws from their opening eight fixtures.
And Benitez believes that surprise package Celta are no flashes in the pan, saying: “We know that it will be a difficult game because they still haven’t lost, they play with intensity and they’ve been achieving great results.
“They will be ready for us and also have the motivation of being top. But we will play with intensity and emotion, with the intention of bringing back three points. We have sufficient quality to win the game.”
Benitez has drawn criticism from some quarters for negative football, with Real looking more solid and less spectacular since his summer arrival.
At his pre-match press conference he was aksed to give himself a mark out of 10 for the start he has made and, while he refused to do so, he launched a defence of his fledgling reign.
“It is the team and the players that have to be marked, they’re the stars,” repled Benitez. “It’s all a matter of time. We’re unbeaten, top of the table and our stats are positive. We’re on the right track and we’ll make our evaulations at the end of the season”.
AS | Rafa Benitez bench and additions this year has helped RM win points. Last year Ancelotti didn’t have that luxury on his bench.
— SocialRMadrid (@SocialRMadrid) October 23, 2015
The biggest threat to Los Blancos will come from Celta forward Nolito, who has been one of the most impressive individual performers in La Liga during the opening two months of the campaign.
The Spain international has already scored six league goals, including last weekend’s injury time winner against fellow highfliers Villarreal and a superb strike in September’s stunning 4-1 home victory over Barcelona.
And to show his importance to the team, the versatile forward has also been credited with three assists, forming a potent three-pronged strike force with Iago Aspas and Fabian Orellana.
Understandably after their outstanding recent four-goal display against Barcelona, Nolito is talking up his team’s chances of success on Saturday afternoon.
Insisting that Celta will attempt to get on the front foot and dictate the flow of the game, he said: “We will try to play the same way we always do and stay faithful to our philosophy.
“They are a great team and the favourites, but we will take them on as equals and without fear. If we are at their best, we can really hurt Madrid.”
And Nolito, who has been heavily linked with a return to his former club Barca in the January transfer window, admitted this could be the perfect time to face Los Blancos, noting: “The more injuries Madrid have, the better.”
