PEPE OUT OF MADRID'S GAME AT DEPORTIVO

PEPE OUT OF MADRID'S GAME AT DEPORTIVO

Real Madrid centre back Pepe will
miss Saturday's La Liga match at
Deportivo La Coruna due to a
muscle problem, though right back
Dani Carvajal is fit again after a
thigh injury, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Friday.
"I have very good options because Carvajal is
available," Ancelotti told a news conference
previewing the game at the Riazor, where Real have
won seven of their last eight matches in all
competitions.
"The player we won't have is Pepe, who is suffering
from muscle fatigue," added the Italian.
The Portugal international's place in central defence
is likely to be taken by France's Raphael Varane,
who this week agreed a contract extension with the
European champions until June 2020.
Real have made a stuttering start to their La Liga
campaign and lost on their last two outings, away at
Real Sociedad and at home to champions Atletico
Madrid.
After three matches they are mired down in 13th
place and are already six points behind early
leaders Barcelona, who play at Levante on Sunday.
Ancelotti suffered one of the biggest setbacks of his
career at Depor's Riazor stadium in April 2004,
when the Spanish side beat his AC Milan team 4-0
in their Champions League quarterfinal second leg
to overturn a 4-1 deficit.
Real began their latest campaign in Europe's elite
club competition with a thumping 5-1 win against
FC Basle on Tuesday and need to carry that form
into Saturday's game to help dispel doubts about
their domestic title credentials.
"We have to maintain the necessary calm because
the season is long and one thing is for certain,"
Ancelotti told reporters.
"We will fight to the end in all the competitions. I
don't understand the concern. Everyone should
have faith in this team.
"We won the European Cup four months ago and it
could be that we will win it again."
There are midweek games in La Liga next week,
when Real host Elche on Tuesday.