Madrid without centre-backs: Nacho Fernandez suffering from muscle strain

Real Madrid captain Nacho Fernandez adds to coach Carlo Ancelotti's defensive woes ahead of the crucial La Liga meeting against Girona.

The Italian coach is without any of his four first-team centre-backs. The 34-year-old is a doubt for Saturday's game at the Santiago Bernabeu after suffering a muscle strain, according to 'EFE'.

Nacho Fernandez is taking over the roles of Eder Militao and David Alaba, who are both suffering anterior cruciate ligament injuries, and the match overload is taking its toll. The captain did not attend Wednesday's training session and received physiotherapy treatment to try to recover as soon as possible.

The Italian coach had to improvise in the Madrid derby against Atletico Madrid with Dani Carvajal at centre-back, due to the added absences of Antonio Rudiger with a knock and Aurelien Tchouameni through suspension.

For the game against Girona, which Real Madrid began preparing for on Wednesday after two days' rest, Ancelotti will be keeping an eye on Fernandez's progress in the coming hours and that of Rudiger, who remains on the sidelines.