Real Madrid suffer major blow before Inter clash as Arda Güler and two others are ruled out
José Mourinho could hardly have asked for a more complicated start to Real Madrid’s Champions League campaign, with the highly anticipated clash against Inter Milan forcing the Portuguese manager to rethink his midfield options.
Real Madrid will open their league-phase campaign against Inter Milan on September 8 at the Santiago Bernabéu, but they will not have a full-strength squad available after Arda Güler, Eduardo Camavinga and Bernardo Silva were ruled out through suspensions carried over from last season’s European campaign.
Major absences hit Real Madrid’s midfield
The most eye-catching absence is Güler, who had made a strong start to the new season and emerged as an increasingly important option in Mourinho’s plans.
The Turkish midfielder received a second yellow card during Real Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich last season. His second booking came after the final whistle following his protests towards the referee, resulting in a one-match suspension.
Camavinga was also sent off in the same match after receiving a second yellow card late in the game, leaving him with a suspension that carries into the opening match of the new European campaign.
Bernardo Silva’s situation is slightly different. The Portuguese midfielder carries a suspension from his time at Manchester City, having been sent off against Real Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 after using his hand to stop an effort heading towards goal.
Three midfield options are unavailable against Inter at once, leaving Mourinho with the task of building a new combination for his first major European test.
Mourinho faces a tactical dilemma
The issue is not simply the number of absentees, but the timing of their suspensions, with the trio missing just as Real Madrid prepare for a heavyweight Champions League opener against Inter.
Without Güler, Camavinga and Bernardo Silva, Mourinho has fewer midfield options, while the fitness of Aurélien Tchouaméni remains uncertain.
Tchouaméni has been recovering from a fitness issue suffered during pre-season. If he receives clearance to play, he could be the leading candidate to partner Federico Valverde in a double pivot.
If the French midfielder is not ready, Mourinho could turn to a more adventurous solution by moving Jude Bellingham into a deeper central role.
Another, more unconventional option would be to deploy Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield, a possibility that has emerged among the scenarios being considered to deal with the shortage of options.
A blow at a crucial moment
The timing is particularly frustrating for Real Madrid because the team have made an impressive start to the domestic season.
Madrid recently produced a 4-0 victory over Málaga in La Liga, with Güler scoring in stoppage time after coming off the bench.
However, the Turkish star will not be available to Mourinho for his first major European test after the suspension carried over from last season ruled him out of the Inter fixture.
Real Madrid therefore lose not just one player, but three midfield options capable of influencing the structure of the team. That makes the build-up to September 8 particularly important as Mourinho decides which combination will start at the Bernabéu.
The Inter clash will represent Mourinho’s first major European test since returning to the Real Madrid job. The atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabéu is expected to be intense, but the Portuguese coach must find his solution before kick-off, with Inter also arriving at the new Champions League campaign with serious ambitions.