Tense times for Carlo Ancelotti

Not all is rosy at Real Madrid, as the club reflect on the defeat to Espanyol in LaLiga, which was their second loss in a row.

Head coach Carlo Ancelotti is trying to steady the ship after two defeats and a draw in their last three games, and is working with just eight players at their Valdebebas training ground at the moment.

Benjamin Mendy and Marcelo are working with the group after recent returns from injury, but 17 players are absent due to either injury problems or international duty.

The players currently stuck in the treatment room are Gareth Bale, Isco, Marcos Asensio, Dani Ceballos, Dani Carvajal, Mariano, Casemiro, Eduardo Camavinga and Eden Hazard - far from ideal for the Italian.

There were eight players missing in the defeat to Espanyol, and the international break isn't helping matters.

Hazard has had to drop out of the Belgian squad with a muscle problem, Camavinga didn't feature for the France Under-21 side because of a foot injury and Casemiro didn't travel with Brazil as he had a severe dental issue.

Ancelotti will be praying that the nine internationals from his squad can return in one piece as he looks to piece a team together ahead of their tie against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, and a crucial LaLiga Santander match against Barcelona.

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