Last Year's January Injury Storm That Real Madrid Were Wary Of

MADRID - Real Madrid are trying hard to avoid a repeat of the hurricane of injuries they suffered in January last year. Zinedine Zidane and his senior fitness coach Gregory Dupont must really take their players' conditions seriously.

Last season, coach Santiago Solari was bombarded with injury after injury after a Christmas break in which seven players were out of action in January. That means nearly 15 percent of injuries to Madrid players last season occurred in the first month.

At that time, Jesus Vallejo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Keylor Navas, Toni Kroos, Marcos Llorente and Thibaut Courtois spent time in the treatment room.

That month, Real Madrid's schedule is packed between league matches and the Copa del Rey. Los Blancos will also have to catch up in La Liga Santander following their involvement at the Club World Cup in December.

Bale was out for 24 days, Kroos was out for 16 days and Llorente spent 22 days in the treatment room. Marcos Asensio was also injured during the Club World Cup and did not return until a month and a half later.

For example, for their match against Real Betis on January 13, Solari only had Benzema and Vinicius Junior up front. Their true fitness is also very doubtful, but with Bale and Asensio injured and Lucas Vazquez suspended, what else can we do?

Now, Real Madrid faces a busy January period with the addition of Supercopa de Espana matches in Saudi Arabia, alongside Barcelona, Valencia and Atletico Madrid.

Previously the Supercopa de Espana event to mark the new season began and was held over two legs between the La Liga champions and the Copa del Rey winners. However, with the new format, now there will be four teams drawn from the top four of the La Liga standings last season.

Real Madrid will meet Valencia on January 8, 2020, while Barcelona will face Atletico Madrid the following day. While the final party will be staged on January 12, 2020.

If injuries return to bombard Madrid, don't expect to return to the peak of glory under Zidane.