Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso could bring Raul Asencio into the starting XI for Saturday's La Liga clash against Espanyol due to his suspension and injury problems at the back.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is facing six to eight weeks on the sidelines with the hamstring issue that he suffered during the on Tuesday night.

Dean Huijsen is suspended, meanwhile, due to the red card that he picked up .

Dani Carvajal would have been an option to feature in the middle, but he is now needed at right-back, while Antonio Rudiger is a long-term absentee with a muscular problem.

Alonso has the option of dropping Aurelien Tchouameni into the back four, but it is more likely that Asencio, who was linked with a move away from Bernabeu over the summer, will earn his first start of the

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