Alarm at Villarreal before the Bernabeu: Buchanan and Ilias return injured, and Comesa1a brings good news

Villarreal CF

I1igo P1ez will have to wait for medical assessments before knowing which players he will be able to call on on Saturday, October 10, at 9:00 p.m., at the Santiago Bernabeu. The situation of Buchanan and Ilias is drawing much of the attention, as the exact extent of their discomfort is still unknown.

The most recent case is that of the Canadian international. Buchanan suffered an injury to the lower part of his body after receiving a challenge during the match between Canada and Peru. The forward left the camp and will not take part in the friendly against the United States, for which Theo Corbeanu has been called up as a replacement.

His availability for Real Madrid will depend on the tests he undergoes upon his return. Buchanan had been playing a key role among the offensive options of the Villarreal coach at the Villarreal.

Ilias also returns early

24

Ilias Akhomach
1.700.000€+20.000€12

J7

5

J6

-

J5

1

J4

2

J3

MD

20

Doubts also extend to Ilias Akhomach. The winger played 28 minutes in the second half of Morocco's win over Gabon, but afterwards he began to suffer muscular problems.

Those issues prevented him from taking part in the next official match against Lesotho and also in the subsequent friendly against Mali. Ilias now returns to Vila-real to put himself in the hands of the medical staff and determine the extent of the problem.

His availability for the Bernabeu, therefore, is also not guaranteed. The forward had been gaining prominence in I1igo P1ez's plans in the days leading up to the break.

The match preparation will also be affected by the staggered return of the internationals. Georges Mikautadze wrapped up his participation with Georgia against Northern Ireland in the UEFA Nations League this Monday, a match that began with him as a substitute.

Later, Santiago Mouri1o, Alex Freeman, Nathan Saliba and Tani Oluwaseyi will rejoin. Mouri1o had the India-Uruguay game in Calcutta this Tuesday, while Freeman, Saliba and Oluwaseyi will finish their international commitments in the Saint Paul United States-Canada match, scheduled for 2:00 a.m. on Wednesday in Spain.

With the trips and the national-team schedule, there will be little room for several players to work with the rest of the squad before heading to Madrid.

Amid so many doubts, there is some good news for I1igo P1ez. Santi Comesa1a trained again with the group this Monday afternoon after the physical problems he had been carrying, and he is moving forward with the aim of being among the coach's options against Real Madrid.

Juan Foyth also continues with his recovery. The coming days will show whether the Argentine defender is in a position to fully return to the team's usual work.

Villarreal started this international period with twelve players called up by their national teams and the intention of continuing to work on the mechanisms of the new coaching staff. Now they will have to manage the progressive return of their internationals and learn the diagnosis for Buchanan and Ilias before finally preparing for the visit to the Santiago Bernabeu.