Carlo Ancelotti faces 'midfield mayhem' as Madrid's injury crisis escalates

The pre-season concerns over defensive fragility have, for now, been overshadowed by mounting issues in the midfield. With key players sidelined, Ancelotti's options are dwindling.

Before the season's start, concerns were focused on the defence, particularly with David Alaba out until November and Jesus Vallejo relegated to a minimal role. The defensive line-up, featuring Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao, was seen as a stabilising force.

Last season's serious cruciate ligament injuries to Militao and Alaba had left fans anxious about the team's defensive resilience.

However, as the La Liga season has progressed, it is the midfield that now poses a significant headache for Ancelotti.

Dani Ceballos is set to be out for six to eight weeks due to a Grade III ankle sprain, while Aurelien Tchouameni has been sidelined by a recurring metatarsal injury, which also kept him out of the Wembley final last season.

The Italian manager has already faced difficulties, having only been able to field the same midfield combination in the opening matches against Atalanta and Mallorca.

The problems began before the official season kick-off, with Eduardo Camavinga suffering an internal knee ligament sprain during training for the UEFA Super Cup against Atalanta. Initially expected to be out for around two months, Camavinga's recovery timeline may be shorter given his history of swift comebacks.

Tchouameni replaced Camavinga in Warsaw and had been a fixture alongside Federico Valverde and, initially, Jude Bellingham. 

However, Bellingham also fell victim to injury, suffering a rare muscle issue in his right leg, with an expected recovery period of one month.

This injury occurred on August 23, indicating that both Bellingham and Camavinga may not return in time for Madrid's clash against Real Sociedad on September 14, just three days before their Champions League opener against Stuttgart at the Bernabeu.

Further compounding Ancelotti's woes, after the recent Real Betis match, Ceballos and Tchouameni were both confirmed out, leaving Real Madrid with only three fit midfielders, Valverde, Luka Modric, and Arda Guler, during the international break.

Any further injury to these remaining players could leave Ancelotti in a precarious situation. As the team prepares for their next fixtures, Ancelotti will be hoping to stabilise his squad and mitigate the impact of these injuries on their campaign.