Madrid hit by injury wave as Alonso braces for Athens showdown

Injury blows ahead of Athens clash

Real Madrid suffered a double blow ahead of their UEFA Champions League clash with Olympiakos as training at Valdebebas opened with worrying news for coach Xabi Alonso.

It was confirmed that Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois would miss the trip to Athens because of a gastroenteritis, and defender Din Huisen joined the list of absences, complicating matters further.

According to Marca, Huisen is dealing with knee pain that appeared after the Elche match, preventing him from taking part in the morning session.

The player awaits medical tests to determine his readiness before traveling to Greece, leaving the team in a delicate position given weeks of defensive injuries.

Madrid’s form and the Athens test

Madrid travel to the Greek capital on Wednesday to face Olympiakos in Athens, as Alonso's side enters one of the most sensitive periods of the season.

After three matches without a win, doubts about the team's level of performance are growing.

They have not tasted a domestic or European victory since a 4-0 home win over Valencia earlier in November.

After that result, Madrid went on to lose 1-0 at Anfield to Liverpool in the Champions League, while the international break was followed by a 0-0 draw with Rayo Vallecano and a 2-2 stalemate with Elche.

Historically tricky trips

Marca and pundits note that Athens has not been a friendly hunting ground for Madrid; the team has never won there in seven official visits against Panathinaikos, AEK Athens, and Olympiakos, with five draws and two defeats to date.

Athens has proven a stubborn fortress, and the latest trip could deepen the doubts surrounding the club.

The Champions League night in Athens looms large: Real Madrid sit seventh in their group with nine points, while Olympiakos sit on two points in a precarious position, making the clash even more crucial for both sides.

Madrid's 0-0 draw with Rayo Vallecano and the 2-2 result with Elche kept the team ahead in La Liga, but only barely, as Barcelona clung to a one-point gap at the top and Elche stood in 13th with 16 points.

Alonso’s remarks

Xabi Alonso spoke after the Elche match, saying that after a string of good results a spell of underachievement followed, and that the team knows what it must do but must press on without hesitation. He stressed that the club is not satisfied and that the road ahead remains long.

He did not shy away from the criticism surrounding recent results, insisting the team has not collapsed and that they continue to compete, understanding that every match is played in a different context.

He highlighted the spirit on the pitch, noting that the players show positive energy and that Madrid must respond to pressure and criticism in the right way, with communication improving daily and the squad acting as a single unit that celebrates wins and hurts at setbacks.

As for tactics, Alonso defended Fran Garcia’s deployment in an unfamiliar role, explaining that the position is not new for him and that the wider shape was intended to stretch the play. He admitted the moment of conceding a goal after the equalizer was unfortunate, but insisted it did not erase the plan.

Regarding Vinícius Jr, who again started on the bench, Alonso said there are no concerns about his commitment, noting that the winger knows his role and they have used this approach in other matches. All players possess the will and energy to regain the positive rhythm.

When asked about the most worrying moment of the game, Alonso indicated that after the 1-1 draw Madrid lacked the continuity to sustain pressure; in the first half the team had built well, did not surrender, but missed the decisive push in the final moment.

With the draw, Real Madrid remained on 32 points at the top of La Liga, one point ahead of Barca, while Elche climbed to 16 points in 13th.

In summary, Madrid head to Athens with injuries to key defenders and a test of character, facing an Olympiakos side eager to claim a result that could reshape the group standings for both teams.

Closing thought from the bench

Two light punchlines to keep things real as we wait for kick-off: 1) If Madrid’s defense were a sniper, the target last longer than the plan—drama guaranteed, results not so much. 2) Alonso says the road is long; apparently so is the queue for a clean sheet this season.