Real Madrid enjoyed an exceptional night at the Camp Nou yesterday, sealing the Clasico against Barcelona with a 2-1 win. But the joy of the Royal Club came with a worry attached, after an injury to one of its biggest stars during the match.
All eyes now fall on the physical condition of Uruguayan Federico Valverde. He left the pitch with muscular pain, and the results of medical tests scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, at Valdebebas are awaited.
According to the Spanish newspaper "Marca", the Real Madrid captain felt muscular pain during the first half, yet insisted on playing on. Denzel Dumfries had already begun warming up in case he was needed to replace him.
Valverde stayed on until roughly the middle of the second half, before his body finally forced him off. He had pushed himself for more than 40 minutes.
Those details, according to the newspaper, point in two directions. The fact that he could carry on may suggest the injury was not serious at first, but playing through the pain raises fears it could have worsened.
Tomorrow at Valdebebas, Valverde will undergo medical tests to determine the severity of the injury and whether he will need a spell on the sidelines.
What sharpens the concern is the size of the role he now plays. He has shone again at right-back and become one of the driving forces behind the team's recent upturn in form.
José Mourinho, the Real Madrid manager, praised Valverde's determination to play on despite the injury, insisting the Uruguayan gave everything during his time on the pitch.
The Portuguese coach said after the match: "There is another name I don't want to overlook, and that is Valverde, who played more than 40 minutes while injured. He got injured, but he wanted to continue and to reach his limits, and he gave everything he had throughout his time on the pitch."
Caught between the euphoria of the Clasico win and the fear over their captain, Real Madrid now wait on those test results. They will be hoping a night of triumph over their fiercest rival does not cost them one of their most important players in the weeks ahead.