Real Madrid shot the frustration of the past few weeks off their chests against Osasuna. But the 4-0 win came at a high price for the Blancos and Eder Militao.
On Saturday afternoon, surprise team Osasuna visited the Bernabeu, and Real Madrid experienced a first half that seemed fitting for the royal occasion. Rodrygo, who had only just returned – perhaps too soon – had to be substituted again after just 20 minutes with an injury, and the Brazilian is at risk of missing the next game due to his thigh. Right back Lucas Vazquez was also forced off through injury early in the game.
But the real drama for the Spanish champions came in the 26th minute, when none of the four Madrid goals had yet been scored, which provided some sporting relief after the home defeats to Barcelona and Milan: central defender Eder Militao went down under no outside influence after a set-piece, but he had not been fouled. And yet the Brazilian screamed in pain, held his knee, was treated on the pitch and finally transported off on a stretcher.
The worst fears were confirmed just two hours after the final whistle: the 26-year-old had torn his cruciate ligament. And not only that, his menisci had also been affected. The end of the season for the regular player.
Militao’s fate is particularly tragic, as he had already torn the cruciate ligament in his left knee in August 2023 – this time it is the right – which meant he missed almost the entire last season. In principle, he had only just really recovered from it.
But Militao’s employer has also been hit hard once again. In October, right-back Dani Carvajal was diagnosed with almost the same injury, meaning that, in addition to top talent Joan Martinez, David Alaba will continue to be out of action in defense – both also due to a cruciate ligament rupture. In 2023/24, when Real became champions and Champions League winners, this injury had also affected starting goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, in addition to Alaba and Militao.
The stopgap comes from the second team – and is convincing
In 2024/25, the Royal Madrid, who were once again on the edge when it came to defensive personnel, will have to do without two starting defenders in Carvajal and Militao. Incidentally, the defeats against Barcelona and Milan have already shown that Vazquez cannot replace Carvajal 1-for-1. And who will replace Militao? Not Alaba for the time being. Not Martinez either. Aurelien Tchouameni, who is actually a defensive midfielder, would be another substitute center back, but the Frenchman is also currently injured.
For the time being, only Raul Asencio (21), who comes from the second team, remains. A positive spark in the midst of Madrid’s depressing personnel situation: Asencio passed his baptism of fire against Osasuna with flying colors.