A familiar feeling of communal anxiety shrouded the Bernabeu on Saturday as Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Valladolid, conceding an 88th-minute equaliser in their first home match of the season.
Real striker Karim Benzema hit the crossbar in the first half and Gareth Bale, the Wales playmaker whose departure seemed inevitable over the summer, was also among those close to breaking the deadlock for the dominant home side.
France forward Benzema eventually found the breakthrough with a fine strike, turning on the edge of the penalty area before rifling in the opener on the half-turn with eight minutes of normal time remaining.
A familiar surname again troubled Real just six minutes later. Striker Sergi Guardiola - no relation to former Madrid nemesis Pep, despite having been on the books at Barcelona - levelled to leave Los Blancos third in the early La Liga table.
Here, Sports Mole rounds up their latest injury and suspension news ahead of the match against Villarreal.
Marco Asensio
© Reuters
Status: Out
Type of injury: Knee
Possible return date: Unknown
Spain winger Asensio ruptured knee ligaments just five minutes after scoring an equaliser against Arsenal in a pre-season friendly in the US. Having come on as a substitute, the 23-year-old left on a stretcher and could face a race to be fully fit for Euro 2020.
© Reuters
Status: Out
Type of injury: Hamstring
Possible return date: September 22 (vs. Sevilla)
Hazard, signed from Chelsea in the summer for a fee in the region of £88.5m, was sorely missed against Valladolid. Real have been deprived of the Belgium sorcerer's ability to unlock and torment stubborn defences because of a hamstring problem sustained by their marquee signing before the start of the campaign.
Ferland Mendy
© Reuters
Status: Minor doubt
Type of injury: Hamstring
Possible return date: September 1 (vs. Villarreal)
France left-back Mendy's first appearance following his arrival from Lyon has been delayed by a hamstring problem. With a fee that could rise to £44m, coach Zinedine Zidane will be hoping the defender will be ready to play some part in an attempt to immediately return to winning ways.
© Reuters
Status: Out
Type of injury: Hamstring
Possible return date: September 14 (vs. Levante)
Linked with a loan move to another La Liga club, 18-year-old Brazilian Rodrygo will miss out again but is expected to return to contention later this month. The forward is yet to make a senior appearance for his club.
REAL MADRID'S SUSPENSION LIST
Real Madrid have no players suspended for this match.
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