There is no peace for Madrid this season. In the last minute of stoppage time, with the night over, Dani Carvajal’s right knee bent in such a worrying way that the Bernabéu froze. His teammates urgently demanded medical assistance while the right-back writhed in pain and anguish after a collision on the touchline with Yeremy Pino. “It seems like a pretty serious injury. They have to evaluate it in the next few hours [la noche de este sábado]. I spoke with him a little, and he was sad and disappointed,” commented Carlo Ancelotti in the press room, with a serious expression and with the undisguisable fear floating in the atmosphere that the problem could be very serious.
Madrid’s defense is still struggling with the cruciate fracture of David Alaba, who has not returned after being injured in mid-December, and whose return date and under what conditions he will do so is unknown. His was Madrid’s third cruciate injury last year, after Courtois and Militão.
The match against Villarreal, despite the victory, left another worrying mishap for Madrid, since Vinicius retired in the 79th minute. “He has a cervical problem. It is completely blocked. They will do tests [este domingo]”, detailed the Italian coach. Club sources described the inconvenience as “serious.” Thus ended an evening of examination in Chamartín due to Madrid’s poor play in this start. Victoria with great concern about the medical report.
On the way to 2-0, Madrid found the agitation of Eduardo Camavinga. In his second game of the season after the injury, the Frenchman’s deployment in the center of the midfield, in Tchouameni’s position (this Saturday central), was a jolt to the whites’ usual tiring passage through the field. The best section that Ancelotti’s boys produced began with the midfielder at the wheel, very active to try to accelerate the release of the ball and be on the lookout.
For the third consecutive game, Carletto opted for four midfielders: Camavinga in the axis, Modric on the scene and Rodrygo on the wing (the club assured that he had not fully recovered from the discomfort in his back). With the Frenchman’s agitation, the start from behind was not the usual paste and, from that greater speed, the locals’ game developed more quickly. It was not a beauty, but the improvement was evident at a time of many doubts during the course.
Of all the pure midfielders in the squad, Camavinga’s is the only option that Carletto has not yet been able to explore in depth to direct the ball’s output. The young man suffered a sprain in his left knee on August 13, and until Wednesday in Lille he did not play the first minutes. “He lacks some condition [por la lesión]. “He asked me for the change,” said the Italian.
His misplaced handball in Lille opened the way to the final 1-0, although in the midst of Madrid’s general triggering, the play did not go beyond the category of accidental. Ancelotti insisted against Villarreal, he gave him a position in the pivot and the team thanked him before Dani Carvajal’s breath was taken away.