Real Madrid have been dealt yet another major defensive blow after Eder Militao was forced off injured during the clash against Celta Vigo.
The incident occurred just 22 minutes into the match, during a sprint in which the Brazilian defender raced alongside Bryan Zaragoza to prevent a potential one-on-one situation.
Militao successfully halted the danger, and there were even suggestions that Zaragoza may have begun the move from an offside position.
However, the relief was short-lived. Moments later, the centre-back collapsed to the ground, signalling that something was seriously wrong.
What happened to Militao?
As soon as he hit the ground, Militao instinctively clutched the back of his left thigh, an unmistakable sign of muscular trouble.
Real Madrid’s medical team immediately rushed onto the pitch and escorted him off, with the defender clearly unable to continue.
The first assessments carried out inside the stadium pointed towards a hamstring issue, specifically affecting the rear of his left leg, and the initial tone from the club was one of real anxiety.
Eder Militao was forced off injuredDisaster for Madrid Star Defender. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Further clarity on the injury is expected today, when Militao undergoes an MRI scan to determine the full extent of the damage. However, those within the club aren’t hiding their concern.
In fact, as reported by AS, a source close to the squad described the situation as “Very worrying .”
What next?
Medical staff will conduct imaging within the next 24 hours, unless swelling forces them to delay it to the 48-hour mark.
But even without the scan, the early prognosis is grim. Team insiders already believe the injury is severe enough to rule Militao out of the upcoming Champions League showdown against Manchester City.
The expectation is that he will miss several matches, making him unavailable in the short term.
This latest setback only worsens an already dire situation for Xabi Alonso. Including Militao, six of the club’s ten defenders are currently sidelined through injury, meaning a whopping 60% of Real Madrid’s backline options are unavailable.