29-year-old ruled out as Real Madrid defensive crisis intensifies ahead of Liverpool clash

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Real Madrid have been handed another defensive blow ahead of their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Liverpool.

Captain and talisman Sergio Ramos missed the first leg in Madrid and was already a confirmed absentee for Wednesday night’s return at Anfield.

Rafael Varane misses out due to self-isolation following a positive Covid-19 test result that was confirmed on the day of the first leg.

Dani Carvajal joins them in missing out on the 21-man squad that has been announced by Los Blancos for this week’s fixture.

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In last week’s 3-1 win for Zinedine Zidane’s side, Lucas Vazquez replaced the injured Dani Carvajal at right-back.

As confirmed by the Independent, he himself has since picked up an injury, sustaining a cruciate ligament sprain in the 2-1 La Liga win over Barcelona on Saturday.

The 29-year-old Spanish international’s place in the 21 has now been taken by Marvin, a 20-year-old midfielder from the reserves who has only turned out on three occasions for the senior team.

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As quoted by the Daily Mail, Zidane said: “I don’t know how we are going to end the season because physically we are at our limit.

“We are hanging in there but we are struggling to finish games at the moment. We are at our limit.”

FULL REAL MADRID SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin and Altube
Defenders: E. Militão, Nacho, Marcelo, Odriozola, F. Mendy and Chust
Midfielders: Kroos, Modrić, Casemiro, Valverde, Isco, Marvin and Arribas
Forwards: Benzema, Asensio, Vini Jr., Mariano and Rodrygo