Chelsea may have been handed a huge advantage going into their Champions League tie with Real Madrid as Zinedine Zidane’s injury concerns continue to mount.
Marca reported that Sergio Ramos and Lucas Vazquez would definitely miss the European clash next week.
Ramos has only recently started his recovery from a calf problem, whilst Vazquez is out for the season with cruciate ligament damage.
Federico Valverde is the other guaranteed absentee.
It was confirmed on Sunday that he had tested positive for coronavirus, meaning a self-isolation period of ten days that covers the Chelsea game.
There is also major doubt surrounding Ferland Mendy’s fitness.
In the same Marca article, they state that the French full-back is being assessed as he overcomes a muscular overload.
Zidane might be sweating over the health of Toni Kroos and Luca Modric as well.
Neither trained with the group yesterday, as the Madrid manager wraps his two midfielders up in cotton wool.
Kroos and Modric have missed the past two La Liga matches, with abductor and back-issues respectively.
It is unlikely either will play a part against Real Betis tomorrow, as Zidane keeps one eye firmly on the Chelsea fixture.
In comparison, Thomas Tuchel has almost a full-bill of health going into Tuesday’s tie with Madrid.
Mateo Kovacic is out with a hamstring injury, whilst Thiago Silva was rested for the Brighton & Hove Albion contest midweek.
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox
