Confirmed: Real Madrid squad list to face AEK Athens – key duo absent

Confirmed: Real Madrid squad list to face AEK Athens – key duo absent Real Madrid will be without Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni for their UEFA Champions League meeting with AEK Athens, with Jose Mourinho also unable to call upon injured pair Raul Asencio and Rodrygo. Mourinho’s squad will travel to Greece ahead of Wednesday’s fourth league phase fixture, following the team’s final training session in Madrid on Tuesday.  The session offered a clearer picture of the players available, although the absence of two senior midfielders will be a notable setback as the manager prepares to make changes to his starting XI. Guler and Tchouameni among notable absentees Real Madrid completed their preparations at the club’s training ground, with most of the squad involved in the session. Asencio and Rodrygo were absent because of their respective injuries and were therefore not considered for the trip.  Guler and Tchouameni, meanwhile, worked indoors on individual programmes rather than joining the main group. Despite the initial expectation that both midfielders could still travel, neither has been included in the squad for the encounter in Athens.  Sergio Martinez earns a place in Mourinho’s squad The most notable addition is Sergio Martinez , the young midfielder who joined Real Madrid from Racing during the summer transfer window, although the teenager is not expected to play a significant role against AEK Athens.  The call-up nevertheless will be an opportunity for the youngster to gain experience around the first team and make an impression on the coaching staff. Rotation is expected to be a major feature of Real Madrid’s approach in Greece, with several players pushing for opportunities from the beginning. Denzel Dumfries and Alvaro Carreras are among the defensive options who could benefit from changes, while Antonio Rudiger also has a chance to feature.  Eduardo Camavinga is another candidate for an increased role in midfield.