Approximately one month without their captain, Carvajal. In just hours, things have clouded over — for Real Madrid. And as if the sting of the 5-2 loss at the Metropolitano were not enough… injuries now compound the pain. He suffered a tear in the right soleus. It is not a serious injury, but it is significant. The club estimates a four- to five-week absence. And this, beyond being a lot, is especially pointed: El Clásico is just four weeks away.
Everything happened in the 40th minute of the derby. Nico González gave a hard stamp, causing an ugly twist. Carvajal immediately requested medical assistance, screaming in pain and writhing on the pitch. The photograph shows the area as it was left. Referee Alberola Rojas sanctioned the action with a yellow card. Carvajal got back up and held on in the match, but by the 59th minute, the pain was already worrying, and he had to be substituted. Test, confirm the worst: he suffered a small tear.
Real Madrid departed for Almaty after the game. Carvajal will not be on the list of call-ups — he would be unavailable anyway, due to his suspension for his foul against Rulli. The issue lies in everything that follows. Carvajal will miss the visit of Villarreal, the international break (Spain), the trip to Getafe, and the visit of Juventus. All of these are certain. And El Clásico? That is the question.
If the injury recovery lasts four weeks, the timing would be extremely tight. Precisely aligned. But if a bit more time is needed… he won’t make it. And the red alert would light up for Xabi Alonso: no right backs for the match against Barcelona. Because Trent (Alexander-Arnold) has it even tougher: he has been diagnosed with six to eight weeks of recovery… and by the time El Clásico arrives, he would have completed five and a half weeks. As of now, he would need an even more miraculous comeback than Carvajal’s.
He has been the ray of sunshine, among the overcast clouds. Because there is no injury, and that is already something. He suffered a severe contusion, nothing more. A bruise that is restricting the area a lot — which is why he was substituted in the Metropolitano, because it was hard to move the joint — but nothing beyond that. The club estimates a 2-3 day treatment. He will not need more. Éder (Militão) is in a lot of pain right now, but he is not at risk. He doesn’t travel to Almaty, and the expectation is that he will be able to play against Villarreal.
In his case, it occurred in the 3rd minute of the derby. Sorloth beat him to the back, entered the area, and, when taking the shot (after battling for the ball), the continuation of the strike struck his ankle. It caused a twist — a bad gesture. Militão was able to continue, but the joint grew stiffer and the pain grew. At halftime, it was considered unlikely he could perform in a match of this dynamism, and all parties opted to substitute him.
