Trent Alexander-Arnold Misses Real Madrid vs PSG Due to Injury Setback
Real Madrid right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has been ruled out of the Club World Cup semi-final clash against Paris Saint-Germain after suffering a setback in training, the club confirmed shortly before kickoff on Wednesday.
The English defender, who joined Real Madrid from Liverpool ahead of the tournament, was not listed in the starting XI or among the substitutes, raising immediate questions about his absence. According to Spanish outlet COPE, Alexander-Arnold experienced a minor injury recurrence during training on Tuesday and was deemed unfit to participate in the semi-final.
Uncertainty for the Final
It remains unclear whether the 25-year-old will be available for the Club World Cup final, scheduled for Sunday (13 July), should Real Madrid advance past PSG. The full extent of the injury has not yet been disclosed.
Alexander-Arnold’s absence is the latest blow to manager Xabi Alonso, who is already without key defenders Dean Huijsen, William Pacho, and Lucas Hernández. To cope, Alonso has opted to deploy Federico Valverde as a makeshift right-back and Aurélien Tchouaméni as a central defender.
Real Madrid Starting XI
With several injuries impacting the defensive line, Real Madrid’s starting XI against PSG featured a number of adjustments:
- Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois
- Defenders: Federico Valverde, Antonio Rüdiger, Álvaro Asencio, Fran García
- Midfielders: Arda Güler, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Jude Bellingham
- Forwards: Kylian Mbappé, Gonzalo García, Vinícius Júnior
Young striker Gonzalo García, the tournament’s top scorer, has been handed a starting role alongside Mbappé and Vinícius, marking the trio’s first-ever match together.
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What’s Next
Should Real Madrid defeat PSG, they will face Chelsea in the final on Sunday. The Spanish giants will be hoping Alexander-Arnold recovers in time to reinforce their defense against the Premier League club.
