Real Madrid took an important first step on Wednesday in their Copa del Rey semifinal against Real Sociedad, moving closer to the final of the tournament. However, not everything was positive from their visit to Anoeta. Dani Ceballos suffered an injury during the match, and now, the worst fears have been confirmed by the club’s official medical report.
The midfielder went down in pain following an accidental collision with Takefusa Kubo. Ceballos immediately signaled for help, holding his face in agony and asking to be substituted. However, with all substitutions already used, Madrid was forced to finish the match with ten players. Accompanied by the club’s medical staff, the player broke down in tears once the final whistle blew and headed straight to the locker room.
Official Diagnosis Confirms Injury Severity
The extent of the injury, which was already feared to be more than just a knock, was finally confirmed on Thursday morning after medical tests. The scans revealed the worst-case scenario, as Real Madrid’s medical statement confirmed:
“After the tests carried out today on our player Dani Ceballos by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the semimembranosus muscle affecting the tendon of the left leg. Pending evolution.”
An injury to the semimembranosus muscle affecting the tendon in his left leg will keep him out of action for approximately two months. This means Ceballos will miss several crucial matches, including:
- La Liga: vs. Real Betis, Rayo Vallecano, Villarreal, Leganés, Valencia, Alavés, Athletic Club, and Getafe.
- Champions League: vs. Atlético Madrid (Round of 16, both legs).
- Copa del Rey: vs. Real Sociedad (Second leg of the semifinals).
- A potential Champions League quarterfinal (both legs), if Madrid advances.
A Double Setback for Ceballos
This injury comes at the worst possible time for the Utrera-born midfielder. In recent weeks, he had been strongly considered for a call-up to Luis de la Fuente’s Spain squad for the upcoming international break against the Netherlands.
Had he been selected, it would have been his long-awaited return to the national team after nearly two years. The last time Ceballos played for Spain was March 28, 2023, in a 2-0 defeat to Scotland, where he featured for 79 minutes. Now, this injury delays his potential comeback, adding to the disappointment.