Akinlabi omitted from Real Madrid matchday squad to face Chelsea in Champions League

Published: May 04, 2021

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has selected twenty-three players for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tie against Chelsea on Wednesday night.

Spanish-born midfielder of Nigerian descent Marvin Akinlabi is certainly not in contention to be named in the matchday squad as he has been omitted from the traveling party to London.

Barring an injury in the final training session later today and pre-match warm up, Zidane will name all the players on the plane to the English capital in his matchday squad as clubs are allowed to name up to twelve substitutes for European matches.

Three of Akinlabi's teammates at Real Madrid Castilla have made the squad for tomorrow's game against Chelsea, namely Miguel Gutierrez, Antonio Blanco and Sergio Arribas.

The Spanish-Nigerian was named in the matchday 21 when Real Madrid faced Liverpool 20 days ago in the quarterfinals of the Champions League but was an unused substitute.

Akinlabi saw his progress with the first team halted for several weeks after picking up an injury on his full debut against Getafe back in February.

The 20-year-old was not selected for Real Madrid Castilla's last two league matches against Extremadura and CD Badajoz, fueling speculation that all is not well with the player.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : realmadrid.com

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