Champions League draw: USMNT stars set for showdown in Round of 16
The second-round pairings for the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League are set following Monday’s round of 16 draw in Nyon, Switzerland.DECEMBER 18, 2023
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Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, ESP
Real Madrid has a depleted defense after Alaba becomes 3rd player with serious knee ligament injury
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has some tinkering to do with his defense after yet another serious injury blowDECEMBER 18, 2023•ASSOCIATED PRESS
David Alaba - Out for season with ACL tearAlaba has been diagnosed with an ACL injury and will miss the rest of the 2023/24 season, the club confirmed in an official statement Sunday.
ImpactThings couldn't have gone worse for Real Madrid on Sunday despite the 4-1 win over Villarreal, as Alaba is the third player the club lost to an ACL injury, and the third starter on defense alongside Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois. The loss of Alaba means Nacho will probably ascend to being a regular starter at center-back unless the club decides to sign a new center-back during the January transfer market.
DECEMBER 18, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Etienne Capoue - Hit with one-game suspensionCapoue has earned a one-game suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season Sunday against Real Madrid. Thus, he won't be eligible to face Celta on Wednesday.
ImpactCapoue will miss the final game of the calendar year for Villarreal, and considering Francis Coquelin (knee) is also unlikely to play, chances are either Ramon Terrats or Manu Trigueros emerge as potential replacements in midfield. Capoue will be eligible to return against Valencia on Jan. 2 in Villarreal's first game of 2024.
DECEMBER 18, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Ramon Terrats - Logs assist off benchTerrats assisted once to go with two crosses (zero accurate) and one chance created in Sunday's 4-1 loss against Real Madrid.
ImpactTerrats logged the assist to Villarreal's only goal, scored by Jose Luis Morales. Ideally for the former, his latest output is a sign of better opportunities for him in 2024, as he has started only one game since Sept. 1 and played more than an hour only twice.
DECEMBER 17, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Jose Luis Morales - Adds one to goal tallyMorales scored one goal to go with one shot (one on goal) in Sunday's 4-1 defeat against Real Madrid.
ImpactSince returning to Villarreal's starting XI again back in late-November, Morales has not taken his latest opportunity lightly. Across his last four games since the re-entry, he scored five goals, already just two short of his seven-goal tally from the 2022-23 La Liga.
DECEMBER 17, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Filip Jorgensen - Concedes four goalsJorgensen had five saves and allowed four goals in Sunday's 4-1 loss to Real Madrid.
ImpactFor the first time since Aug. 27, Jorgensen has conceded more than three goals in a La Liga game. He has conceded three or more goals four times in his last six appearances. Jorgensen will look to get back on track by 2024 with Villarreal's last game of 2023 against Celta Vigo on Wednesday.
DECEMBER 17, 2023•ROTOWIRE
