Real Madrid Faces Defensive Crisis as Éder Militão Sidelined for Four Months
Real Madrid's defense is severely weakened with Éder Militão out for four months and multiple other key defenders sidelined, pushing reliance on youth talent amidst an injury crisis.
- • Éder Militão to miss around four months due to a serious biceps femoris injury.
- • Multiple key defenders including Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal are also sidelined.
- • The team will miss all five first-team full-backs in an upcoming match.
- • Youth players from the academy are being considered to fill gaps during this injury crisis.
Key details
Real Madrid is confronting a severe defensive injury crisis as Éder Militão will be out for approximately four months following a serious biceps femoris injury sustained during their recent match against Celta. Militão's injury occurred when he attempted to chase down Pablo Durán, leading to a significant setback confirmed after thorough medical testing. This latest injury adds to Militão's difficult injury history, including torn ACLs in both knees in recent seasons, underscoring a troubling period for the defender.
The club's defensive woes extend beyond Militão. Trent Alexander-Arnold is sidelined for two months due to a quadriceps injury, while Dani Carvajal will not return until 2026 due to a major knee issue. Ferland Mendy remains unavailable, still recovering from a right biceps femoris injury and having only played once since April. Additionally, Real Madrid is without their five first-team full-backs for an upcoming match, compounding the selection difficulties.
Centre-back options are equally strained. Dean Huijsen is unlikely to be fit for the crucial Champions League clash against Manchester City, with Eduardo Camavinga also dealing with muscular problems. David Alaba has been absent since mid-October due to a right leg overload. Despite these challenges, Kylian Mbappé, while nursing a broken left ring finger, is expected to participate in upcoming fixtures.
The club’s ongoing injury struggles come amid an irregular season with inconsistent performances. However, Real Madrid’s youth academy has been producing promising talents such as Fortea, Joan, and Thiago, who could offer fresh options as coach Xabi Alonso is urged to integrate these young players confidently. This approach may be vital in stabilizing the squad while senior defenders recover.
Real Madrid’s defense, a key pillar for the side’s recent successes, now faces one of its toughest tests this season as the team navigates through a lineup decimated by injuries ahead of important upcoming matches.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
