Aurelien Tchouameni, a defensive midfielder by trade, partnered academy graduate Raul Asencio, 21, who only made his Madrid debut in November, at centre-back against Atletico. Fellow academy defenders Joan Martinez and Jacobo Ramon are also out with injury, accelerating Asencio’s ascent into the first team this season.

Real Madrid's defensive crisis deepens as Lucas Vázquez joins an already lengthy injury list ahead of their Champions League Round of 16 clash against Manchester City, leaving Carlo Ancelotti scrambling for solutions against Pep Guardiola's attacking force.