Real Madrid facing fresh disaster with no fit right-backs for at least one month following Dani Carvajal injury

Real Madrid confirmed on Sunday that captain Carvajal sustained a muscle injury in his right leg during the defeat to Atletico Madrid. The 32-year-old is expected to be sidelined for approximately four weeks, joining Trent Alexander-Arnold on the injury list. Alexander-Arnold, who is recovering from a hamstring problem, is not expected to return until late November, leaving Madrid short at right-back.

Madrid’s right-back crisis has reopened an issue that appeared solved after signing Alexander-Arnold and welcoming back Carvajal from injury earlier this month. Options to cover include Valverde, despite his reluctance to reprise the role, and 22-year-old Raul Asencio. The latest setback adds to growing concerns after a heavy derby defeat that could see Barcelona move above Madrid in the league standings.

The timing of Carvajal’s injury is particularly damaging, coming just weeks before the first El Clasico of the season on October 26. Both full-backs are unlikely to be fit in time, leaving Alonso without a natural option for one of the most important games of the campaign. The situation mirrors January’s Champions League clash against Salzburg, when Madrid were forced to deploy Federico Valverde as an emergency right-back.

Alonso will now need to reshuffle his defensive line as Real Madrid prepare for a busy October schedule that includes Champions League fixtures and El Clasico. The coach is expected to experiment with stopgap solutions in the coming weeks until at least one of his injured full-backs returns. For now, Madrid’s title hopes could hinge on how well they cope without a recognised right-back.