Real Madrid vice-captain Dani Carvajal suffered a horrific leg injury during their 2-0 victory over Villarreal on Saturday night.
Carvajal, who played the entire match as goals from Federico Valverde and Vinicius Junior secured the win, was left in visible agony after a late collision with Yeremi Pino in stoppage time. The right-back had to be stretchered off the field and will now undergo medical tests to assess the extent of the injury. This adds to Real Madrid’s injury woes, with manager Carlo Ancelotti already missing David Alaba, Thibaut Courtois, and Brahim Diaz.
Vinicius Junior, who scored a stunning goal to extend Madrid’s lead, also picked up a shoulder injury and was substituted shortly after his goal. Both players are set to be evaluated, with Carvajal expected to miss Spain’s upcoming Nations League matches against Denmark and Serbia, while Vinicius’ availability for Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Peru is uncertain.
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If Carvajal’s injury proves to be long-term, Ancelotti may rely on Lucas Vazquez, who has been a dependable right-back option despite originally being a winger. However, replacing Vinicius poses a bigger challenge, as his dribbling and creativity are unmatched, making him a top contender for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
Following the international break, Madrid will face Celta Vigo in La Liga and resume their Champions League campaign against Borussia Dortmund in a rematch of last season’s final.