Xabi Alonso Faces Fresh Real Madrid Injury Crisis Just Hours Before Crucial Girona Showdown

Real Madrid defender Raúl Asencio was unable to travel to Girona after falling ill, leaving Xabi Alonso short-handed in the defensive department yet again.

The 22-year-old defender, battling gastroenteritis, has been sidelined for Los Blancos' Sunday evening encounter against Girona. Asencio was absent from training sessions leading up to the La Liga fixture and couldn't recover sufficiently to join Alonso's traveling squad.

The Spanish defender had started three straight matches for Real Madrid during the team's defensive injury crisis, stepping in for the sidelined Éder Militão. Asencio brought steadiness to a defensive unit already missing Antonio Rüdiger, Dani Carvajal, Dean Huijsen and David Alaba.

While Alonso will be without the Real Madrid Castilla graduate on Sunday evening, he can take comfort that Asencio is only dealing with illness, similar to Thibaut Courtois earlier in the week; the keeper was unavailable for Los Blancos' 4–3 triumph over Olympiacos due to a stomach virus, but is expected to start against Girona.

Real Madrid Get Triple Injury Relief for Girona Match

While missing Asencio for Sunday's fixture, Alonso has welcomed back two key players to his roster: Militão and Rüdiger. Both experienced center-backs made the journey to Girona and are ready for selection.

Militão returns after recovering from an adductor muscle problem he picked up while on international duty with Brazil in November. The 27-year-old is set to feature for the first time in Real Madrid colors since Los Blancos' 2–2 stalemate with Elche on Sunday, Nov. 9.

Rüdiger, on the other hand, is back after nearly three months on the sidelines. The German defender, who picked up a hamstring problem during September's international fixtures, has made just one appearance this season for Los Blancos.

Alongside the two defensive reinforcements, Franco Mastantuono is also included in Alonso's squad for the first time since Saturday, Nov. 1. The Argentine has overcome his groin problem and made the trip with the team to the Estadi Montilivi.