Real Madrid Star Sidelined in Crushing Blow Ahead of High-Stakes Liverpool Showdown
Merely 24 hours following El Clásico, Real Madrid announced that Dani Carvajal sustained a knee problem, sidelining him from the squad's forthcoming journey to Anfield and possibly through the end of 2025.
The fullback, who had recently recovered from a calf problem in Sunday's 2–1 triumph against Barcelona, faces another extended period away from action. Following discomfort during the game, Carvajal received additional medical evaluation by Real Madrid on Monday.
Los Blancos revealed the Spanish player's fresh setback in an official statement: "After examinations conducted on our captain Dani Carvajal by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with the presence of a loose body in his right knee joint. Carvajal will now undergo an arthroscopy."
While Real Madrid did not detail the recovery timeframe for Carvajal following the surgery, The Athletic suggests the 33-year-old may remain absent for the rest of the calendar year.
This setback affects the same knee where the experienced defender tore two ligaments and a tendon in Oct. 2024. Carvajal spent nine months recovering before returning during this summer's FIFA Club World Cup.
He subsequently became a consistent starter for Real Madrid at the start of the 2025–26 campaign until sustaining a calf injury in the Madrid derby, keeping him out until El Clásico. Carvajal played only 18 minutes against the Catalans before encountering another extended absence.
How Many Games Will Carvajal Miss for Real Madrid?
If Carvajal remains unavailable for the remainder of 2025, the Spanish defender will be absent for at least these 10 fixtures for Real Madrid:
Opponent | Date | Competition |
|---|---|---|
Valencia (H) | Nov. 1 | La Liga |
Liverpool (A) | Nov. 4 | Champions League |
Rayo Vallecano (A) | Nov. 9 | La Liga |
Elche (A) | Nov. 23 | La Liga |
Olympiacos (A) | Nov. 26 | Champions League |
Girona (A) | Nov. 30 | La Liga |
Celta Vigo (H) | Dec. 7 | La Liga |
Manchester City (A) | Dec. 10 | Champions League |
Alavés (A) | Dec. 14 | La Liga |
Sevilla (H) | Dec. 21 | La Liga |
Alonso must now depend almost exclusively on Trent Alexander-Arnold, who also recently spent close to two months sidelined, to guide Real Madrid through the holiday period. Carvajal's setback virtually ensures the former Liverpool player will start when Los Blancos travel to Anfield.
Federico Valverde, in the meantime, will probably need to feature more frequently on the right wing given the Spanish club's defensive injury concerns.