Real Madrid facing nightmare scenario for Arsenal after Antonio Rudiger suspension update

Real Madrid could be without three key players for their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Arsenal and that does not even include the four at risk of suspension for improper conduct.

Antonio Rudiger, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Dani Ceballos are under investigation by UEFA for their respective celebrations of the last-16 victory over Atletico Madrid. While it is alleged the latter duo taunted the home support, Mbappe and Rudiger arguably did far worse.

Cameras caught the former grabbing his genitals in the direction of the stands while Rudiger was spotted making a cut-throat gesture. The former Chelsea man's actions have not gone down well at all and if is ultimately deemed threatening, he could face an immediate suspension, as per Spanish outlet Marca.

Their report notes that the remaining trio are likely to just be fined and handed a suspended one-match ban. Losing Rudiger would be a huge blow and in the context of what Carlo Ancelotti has available to him, it could be a very make-shift defence at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy and Eder Militao are all injured while an accumulation of yellow cards means Aurelien Tchouameni, who can fill in at centre-back, is suspended. Losing Rudiger as well would see Ancelotti have none of his favoured back four available and it could be about to get worse.

According to Marca, Real Madrid Castilla goalkeeper Fran Gonzalez is expected to start Madrid's La Liga clash with Valencia this weekend.

Thibaut Courtois is currently missing with minor a knee problem while second-choice Andriy Lunin finished the Copa del Rey triumph over Real Sociedad with a soleus injury that could force him to miss out.

While it could be a 19-year-old that has never played for the senior team in goal for a Champions League knockout tie, Madrid believe he is the future and thus have high hopes.

Either way, having potentially six important players at the back absent is quite the nightmare for Ancelotti as evidenced by Sociedad scoring four goals against his side earlier this week.

Madrid are not the only team with injury problems however as the Gunners confirmed on Thursday that Gabriel Magalhaes will require surgery on the hamstring issue he picked up against Fulham and thus miss the remainder of the season.

Jurrien Timber and Ben White are also slight doubts while Riccardo Calafiori has been ruled out. Arteta will be hoping Bukayo Saka is in a position to play close to 90 minutes against Los Blancos after his goal off the bench earlier in the week.

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