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Real Madrid News: Red card versus Barcelona threatens La Liga title race
REAL MADRID have been plunged into a defensive crisis after Sergio Ramos' red card against Barcelona last night.
Messi scores incredible last minute winning goal for Barcelona
Ramos was sent off for a horror tackle on Barcelona's Lionel Messi in El Clasico yesterday.
Real Madrid lost the match 3-2, with Messi scoring with the last kick of the game.
It put Barcelona top of La Liga and level on points with their rivals, although Real do have a game in hand.
However, Real manager Zinedine Zidane faces a serious selection headache for their next game against Deportivo on Wednesday.
Not only will Ramos be suspended for the game but Pepe and Raphael Varane are out injured.
That leaves 27-year-old Nacho as Real's only available centre-half.
Nacho has become a regular in the Madrid XI after initially playing a bit-part role to Zidane's plans this season.
Real Madrid's Zidane will be without Ramos (right) after the red card against Barcelona
Sergio Ramos was sent off for a foul on Lionel Messi (right)
Real Madrid and Barcelona are now locked on points at the top of La Liga
The manager may opt to play a back-three on Wednesday, with Marco and Daniel Carvajal tucking in alongside Nacho.
But playing two forward-thinking full-backs in a three-man defence could expose the Bernabeu men to Deportivo's counter-attacking strike force.
AS claim Zidane does have other options, with Casemiro potentially dropping back or Danilo moving across, while Varane may be asked to take a very late fitness test.
Otherwise 20-year-old academy product Alvaro Tejero may be promoted to the first team.
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