Image Credits: Imago Images
Real Madrid play Atletico Madrid tonight in a massive game in the LaLiga title race.
Barcelona beat Rayo Vallecano earlier in the day and stretched their lead at the top of the table to 7 points.
Real Madrid are currently in second and realistically are the only team who can stop Barcelona from winning the title.
Atletico Madrid actually sit in fourth place currently, one point behind Villarreal, although they had played one less game.
Tonight’s Madrid derby is to be played at the Bernabeu and Real would be hoping to have make the most of home advantage to close the gap to the top.
However, when the team news dropped, there were several notable names on the substitutes bench.
Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham were the two biggest names there as neither player was deemed fit to start.
Another name that was surprisingly named on the bench with the pair was Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Dani Carvajal was given the nod at right-back instead as Alexander-Arnold was on the bench despite starting the win against Manchester City at the Etihad earlier in the week.
New reports have emerged on why the former Liverpool star isn’t starting the game.
Marca presenter Juan Ignacio Garcia-Ochoa has revealed that head coach Alvaro Arbeloa has dropped Trent Alexander-Arnold after the England international turned up late for training.
Alvaro Arbeloa subsequently made the decision to play Carvajal instead as he wants order from his players and will not accept tardiness in such a manner.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been in the news quite a bit this past week as he was not included in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the upcoming international break.
This is now the second high profile time in a news that Alexander-Arnold is making headlines for not being picked by a manager.
Unlike with England, the Liverpool-born defender is in the squad so may still be able to make an impact in the game.
However, it’s not a great look when a manager has to drop you from such a high profile game.
Trent Alexander-Arnold will be hoping that he can make amends if and when he steps onto the pitch next for Real Madrid.
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