Alvaro Arbeloa offers update on Raul Asencio injury scare

Real Madrid breathed a sigh of relief after Vinicius Junior’s second goal in the tie sunk Benfica 3-1 on aggregate, but they were worried about a possible injury blow to young center back Raul Asencio.

The good news is that Asencio is not injured at a time when Real’s injuries are testing their defensive depth with blows to main starters Eder Militao and Dean Huijsen.

Per Madrid Zone, Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa informed the reporters at the press conference after the 2-1 win over the Portuguese giants that Asencio did not sustain a serious injury:

“It seems like Asencio’s injury is NOT very bad. It’s a neck thing.”

That’s relieving news for Real Madrid, who’ve already had such bad luck with defensive injuries over the past couple of years. Remaining center backs besides Raul include Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba, both aging veterans who themselves have trouble staying healthy.

It’s still not 100 percent clear, though, if Asencio will be able to play in Real’s next game against Getafe in La Liga, which will be a tough battle that will also likely take place without Kylian Mbappe, who has been shut down with a left knee injury that is beginning to act up more and more.