Real Madrid continues to face defensive setbacks ahead of their crucial first-leg clash against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League knockout playoff round. Lucas Vázquez has been diagnosed with a muscle injury in his left hamstring, officially ruling him out of the match at the Etihad Stadium.

Another Defensive Setback for Ancelotti

The right-back now joins a growing injury list that includes Dani Carvajal, Éder Militão, David Alaba, and Antonio Rüdiger, leaving Carlo Ancelotti with a severely weakened defensive line.

Vázquez had already been dealing with discomfort and was rested during the Copa del Rey clash against Leganés. However, he played in the Madrid Derby vs Atlético, which seemingly aggravated the issue.

The club confirmed his injury through an official statement:

"Following tests carried out on Lucas Vázquez by Real Madrid's medical services, he has been diagnosed with a muscle injury in the hamstring of his left leg. He will miss the match in Manchester."

Ancelotti’s Right-Back Dilemma: What Are the Options?

With Carvajal sidelined due to a serious knee injury and Vázquez now unavailable, Ancelotti is left without a natural right-back. Possible solutions include:

• Deploying Fede Valverde as a makeshift right-back
• Relying on youngsters Lorenzo Aguado and Raúl Asencio from the academy
• Adjusting the formation to a three-man defensive line