The Curse Strikes Again: Real Madrid Faces Another Challenge

During yet another international break, officials, coaches, and fans of major European clubs spent two weeks hoping their players would return uninjured. This concern has caused significant frustration among clubs and led to tensions between top teams and their national federations, as seen with Barcelona and PSG. The so-called FIFA virus claimed more victims during this international window.

Real Madrid was among those affected, as Éder Militão suffered an injury during a friendly match between Brazil and Tunisia in Lille (which ended 1-1). The Brazilian central defender had to leave the pitch in the second half due to a muscle injury, specifically an issue with his right adductor.

Xabi Alonso Faces New Challenges

Although the injury isn’t expected to keep Militão out for long—approximately two weeks—it comes at a challenging time. He had been in excellent form recently, becoming a key player in the Madrid defense. Consequently, this is a significant setback for coach Xabi Alonso. Additionally, Alonso is already dealing with a depleted central defense. Dean Huijsen, also struggling with muscle issues, missed Spain’s matches, and his availability for the weekend clash against Elche is uncertain. Even if he plays, he might not be at full capacity, having faced some criticism for his recent performances.

Behind Militão and Huijsen, the situation remains problematic. While Raul Asencio is fit, Antonio Rüdiger is still recuperating from a mid-September injury. David Alaba, the fifth central defender, is also unavailable, having not played for his national team, which qualified for the World Cup on Tuesday night. Once again, the central defense curse strikes Real Madrid, and Xabi Alonso will need a fully fit central defender for this weekend’s match. Although the upcoming fixtures seem manageable—against Elche, Olympiakos, and Girona—the team cannot afford any missteps following their performances prior to the break.