Helguera dropped by Real Madrid

Real Madrid's Ivan Helguera gestures during a Spanish league match against Osasuna in December 2005. Real coach Juan Lopez Ramon Caro has left Helguera out of the 18-man squad that will face Arsenal in the Champions League.

Real Madrid coach Juan Lopez Ramon Caro has left Spanish international Ivan Helguera out of the 18-man squad that will face Arsenal in the Champions League.

The Spanish giants play host to their English visitors in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Tuesday.

It is the first time that the 30-year old Helguera, who can play in the centre of the defence or midfield, has been completely discarded for tactical reasons since he joined Real in 1999.

Lopez Caro's decision means it is almost certain that Danish international Thomas Gravesen will play in front of the back four in his favoured 4-1-4-1 formation.

Jonathan Woodgate and Sergio Ramos are expected to be the pairing in the middle of the defence. "Both of them are doing really well," Lopez Caro said Monday.

It has been a bad year for Helguera, who has a reputation of speaking out in public if something is not to his liking, in his relations with coaches.

He fell out of favour with national coach Luis Aragones at the start of the season and it looks unlikely that he will be going to the World Cup or adding to his 47 caps in the near future.

Helguera could also now be looking for a new club at the end of the season when his current contract at Real comes to an end.