Injuries have been a constant feature of Real Madrid‘s season, which is now at a critical juncture in terms of its defense. Carlo Ancelotti’s side has failed to reach May still in the Champions League and, having already lost the Copa del Rey, has reached this key month in the calendar four points behind Barcelona in La Liga and with a plague of injuries that has left the defense in tatters.
The season began with the loss of Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao for the entire season. These two heavy blows complicated a defense that has been plagued by injuries and absences, forcing Carlo Ancelotti to juggle his lineup. This is currently the case once again, with the situation now critical.
In recent days, Camavinga has been ruled out of the World Cup and will be a significant loss both in midfield and in defense, where he has played as a left back on numerous occasions. In addition, Rüdiger, Mandy, and Alaba have all been added to the injury list.
All three have undergone surgery and now face a long recovery. In the case of the German center back, his knee is expected to be ready for the World Cup and he will only miss the remaining domestic matches. Alaba has suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee and will be out for 6 to 8 weeks. The club is confident that he will be fit for the Club World Cup.
Mendy has suffered a tear of the proximal tendon of the rectus femoris in his right quadriceps. He has also undergone surgery and is expected to be out for between 10 and 12 weeks. He will not make it to the Club World Cup.
Carvajal and Militao to the rescue
Militao and Carvajal are working hard towards the Club World Cup. Both are training at Valdebebas and aim to be with Real Madrid for the summer tournament. The full-back was injured in October 2024 and the center back a month later. Both underwent surgery and were set to miss the season. As the season progressed and their recovery continued, their goal was clear: to make it to the World Cup, which, after several weeks of training, seems more than feasible.
These are two luxury ‘signings’, as both the Madrid full-back and the center back were regulars in the back line, offering great performances. That is why their absences have been key in the poor performance of a defense that has been leaky and has made things very difficult for Real Madrid this season.