Madrid Stung By COVID-19, Ancelotti Brings 7 Academy Players To Bilbao's Home

Real Madrid (Twitter @realmadrid)

JAKARTA - Real Madrid was hit by the COVID-19 storm. Isco and David Alaba are the latest players to test positive. Facing Athletic Bilbao, coach Carlo Ancelotti was forced to bring seven academy players.

Los Blancos travel to San Mames on Wednesday evening local time in a rescheduled La Liga clash. The Spanish capital club will play with a number of unknown faces to earn points.

Los Blancos could still field a strong starting XI, but the bench might leave some scratching their heads.

Two of La Fabrica's seven products are goalkeepers, where Toni Fuidias and Diego Pineiro are plotted as cover for Thibaut Courtois.

While the other five players on this list are Rafa Marin, Miguel Gutierrez, Antonio Blanco, Peter Federico and Sergio Arribas. Who are they?

¡Nuestros convocados para el partido @AthleticClub!#AthleticRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/E7lxFTSy6Z

— Real Madrid CF (@realmadrid) December 21, 2021

Rafa Marin plays as a central defender. He is called up as extra cover in case something happens to Eder Militao or Nacho Fernandez who will start the match in the Basque Country.

Citing Marca, Jesus Vallejo will be the first replacement if one of them is not available. Behind him, there was only Marin.

Meanwhile, left-back Miguel Gutierrez is not really a stranger to playing with the first team. He's already started the game this season so Ancelotti knows he can be counted on if needed.

Antonio Blanco has also been in the senior squad before and has a similar profile to Casemiro in terms of his game, although Eduardo Camavinga will start in the Brazilian's absence.

As for Peter Federico, he was already on the bench in the match against Cadiz last weekend. The fans, in fact, were hoping to catch a glimpse of the 19-year-old in action in that match. However, because the result was a draw, Ancelotti chose not to include him in place of Hazard.

Maybe at San Mames he'll get a chance to play. His dribbling skills will be very useful against stubborn defenses like Athletic's.

Then Sergio Arribas, he is an attacking midfielder who is respected at the club and often features in Zinedine Zidane's squad. However, the competition in his current position has limited the 20-year-old's chances of showing his action.

The current COVID-19 crisis can be said to be a blessing in disguise for Arribas, and even for the other four academy players (except the goalkeeper). They can show their abilities as well as stake their claim on the first team.