Real Madrid right back Alvaro Arbeloa will miss the Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu against Barcelona having been ruled out for three weeks with a knee injury.
Clubs doctors confirmed the Spanish international is set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering a tear in his patella. It was initially thought he would only miss a week of action, but he now miss up to five La Liga games as well as the second leg of the Champions League game with Schalke, although Los Blancos hold a 6-1 lead in that tie.
It is believed the 31-year-old dependable right back will be fit for the Champions League quarter final and the final of the Copa del Rey.
Carlo Ancelotti has rotated his right backs this season with Arbeloa and Daniel Carvajal swapping places in the starting eleven. Carvajal, who grew up in the youth teams at the club before spending a year in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen, will slot into the side to cover Arbeloa’s injury.
The 21-year-old started the Clasico fixture at the Nou Camp back in October and was given a torrid time by Neymar as Los Blancos slipped to a 2-1 defeat. He has put in more solid displays since then as Madrid have embarked on a 28-game unbeaten run.
