Real Madrid rocked before Juventus clash: Alaba, Rüdiger, Ceballos, Huijsen miss final training

On the eve of Real Madrid’s meeting with Juventus, four names failed to appear in the final training session: David Alaba, Antonio Rüdiger, Dani Ceballos, and Huijsen. For a side already juggling fitness issues and rhythm, losing two senior center-backs and a midfield rotation piece invites chaos. From a Juventus perspective, this is the soft underbelly you dream of attacking: aerial duels without Rüdiger’s bite, build-up without Alaba’s calm, and fewer midfield plugs without Ceballos. It’s the perfect storm for a ruthless Italian punishment if Madrid can’t paper over the cracks in 24 hours.

In the last practice before facing Juventus, Real Madrid were without David Alaba, Antonio Rüdiger, Dani Ceballos, and Huijsen, per a widely shared training update. Alaba has been on a long road back from serious injury, Rüdiger has carried knocks in recent months, and Ceballos’ stop-start availability continues to frustrate. The quartet’s absence limits defensive leadership and midfield rotation, potentially forcing tactical compromises against Juventus’ direct transitions and set-piece threat. The timing, coming immediately before matchday, is especially damaging to cohesion and match prep.

Last training session ahead of tomorrow's game vs Juventus: ❌️ Alaba ❌️ Huijsen ❌️ Rüdiger ❌️ Ceballos

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

From a Juventus-leaning lens, this is a gift. Remove Rüdiger’s aerial dominance and vocal organization and Madrid’s back line loses its enforcer and reference point. Strip out Alaba’s line-breaking passes and calm under pressure and the first phase of Madrid’s build-up becomes tentative, predictable, and easier to press. Ceballos, while not an automatic starter, is a crucial rhythm-setter when Carlo Ancelotti wants to control tempo or manage minutes; his absence narrows in-game solutions, particularly if the midfield is asked to babysit a makeshift defense.

Tactically, Juventus can overload wide channels, isolate the stand-in center-backs with diagonal switches, and hammer set pieces. Without Rüdiger’s timing and Alaba’s guidance, Madrid’s rest-defense will likely sit deeper, leaving more second balls for Juve’s midfield to harvest. Expect Juventus to test the penalty area early with crosses and cut-backs, inviting hesitancy and communication errors.

Psychologically, these omissions announce fragility. Opponents smell it; teammates feel it. The bench options—however talented—do not replicate the chemistry or leadership of the absentees on 24 hours’ notice. For Juventus, the pathway is clear: high pressure on Madrid’s first pass, target aerial mismatches, and draw fouls in crossing zones. If Madrid concede the first goal, the lack of senior defensive ballast could cascade into panic, exactly the momentum swing Juventus need to dictate terms.

Reaction

Fan discourse swung predictably volatile. Madrid supporters lamented the déjà vu of Ceballos and Alaba’s fitness issues, calling the pattern “ridiculous” when minutes finally arrive. Others framed it as a “tough lineup blow—key players missing,” anticipating a reshuffle that dilutes both build-up and set-piece resilience. A few tried to stay upbeat, praising the concise update, but the undercurrent was anxiety about a thin defensive core on short notice.

Some posts drifted off-topic entirely, underscoring how quickly timelines derail, yet the dominant thread remained squad fragility. One fan pleaded for Ceballos’ return for future clashes, highlighting how his metronomic passing stabilizes chaos. Another mocked rivals by invoking full-back recoveries elsewhere, but that bravado read like nervous whistling past the graveyard.

From a Juventus vantage, the mood is opportunistic: Madrid arriving without two senior center-backs invites targeted pressing, vertical runs between the lines, and a set-piece barrage. Neutral observers called it a “lineup blow,” while Madrid loyalists clung to hope that academy and rotation pieces can hold the fort. The consensus? Advantage Juventus—unless Madrid’s backups deliver a flawless, error-free night.

Social reactions

What’s wrong with Huijsen?

Edem 𝕏🦅 (@the_edem_guy)

Well trent and carvajal are back! Pray for juve and barca!

Damian🦅 (@Damianfx_)

Tough lineup blow—key players missing

Mohan's Football (@mohans_football)

Prediction

Expect Juventus to seize initiative with an aggressive first 20 minutes. They’ll pin Madrid’s full-backs, force the stand-in center-backs to defend backpedaling runs, and pounce on second balls around the box. Corners and wide free-kicks will be weaponized; a near-post flick-on routine is on the cards given Madrid’s diminished aerial command. In possession, Juventus will bait Madrid’s first line, then punch vertical passes into the half-spaces, asking replacement defenders to make split-second decisions without their usual leaders.

If Madrid survive the initial onslaught, they could stabilize via double pivots to shield the back line and slower circulation to mute transitions. Still, without Alaba’s progressive passing and Rüdiger’s duels, every clearance risks boomeranging. The most plausible script: Juventus score first, forcing Madrid to chase with higher full-back positions—conditions ripe for Juve counters.

Only a star turn from a Madrid attacker or a heroic display from a deputy center-back flips the narrative. Barring that, Juventus should grind territory, collect set pieces, and manage moments. Probability skew: Juventus to win narrowly, Madrid’s xGA inflated by rest-defense instability, and post-match conversations dominated by the absentees.

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Conclusion

On paper and on grass, this is Juventus’ moment to twist the knife. Madrid minus Rüdiger loses snarl and structure; Madrid minus Alaba loses poise and progression. Strip away Ceballos’ control valve and the midfield’s margin for error evaporates. Football rarely offers a clearer strategic invitation: target the center-backs, crowd the six-yard box, and make every dead ball count.

Madrid’s badge often papers over cracks, but leadership can’t be conjured overnight. The backups may be talented, yet chemistry is earned, not gifted in a single session—especially when chemistry is precisely what Juventus can stress with tempo shifts and physical duels. If Madrid concede early, expect the spiral: rushed distribution, broken lines, and panicked set-piece defending.

Unless Madrid deliver an immaculate, disciplined performance, Juventus should dictate the rhythm and walk away with the spoils. The cold truth: absences matter, and these ones tilt the field.