Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal will be sidelined for at least a month due to a muscle injury.
The Spanish defender has suffered a blow that casts serious doubt over his availability for the season’s first El Clásico against Barcelona.
Carvajal started in Saturday’s La Liga clash where Real Madrid were thrashed 5-2 by Atlético Madrid, but he couldn’t finish the match. He left the field in the 59th minute with discomfort in his leg.
In a statement on Sunday, Real Madrid confirmed that Carvajal has sustained a muscle injury but did not provide a timeline for his return.
According to Spanish media reports, the 33-year-old is expected to be out for at least a month.
Real Madrid are scheduled to face Barcelona at home on October 26 in a crucial league clash. “Carvajal’s participation in the match against their arch-rivals remains uncertain.”
Carvajal had only returned last July during the Club World Cup after being sidelined for nine months with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. This season, he has already played in seven of Real’s eight matches across all competitions.
The team is already battling injuries to two other defenders, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Antonio Rüdiger, and Carvajal’s setback comes as yet another major blow.
In their quest to reclaim the La Liga title, Real currently sit at the top of the table with 18 points from six wins in seven matches. Defending champions Barcelona are second with 16 points from one game fewer. “Hansi Flick’s side can move to the summit with a win over Real Sociedad on Sunday.”
Real Madrid’s next game is on Tuesday in the Champions League against Kazakhstan club FC Kairat Almaty.
Before facing Barcelona later in October, Real Madrid will take on Villarreal and Getafe in La Liga and Juventus in the Champions League.
