The Brazilian winger suffered a thigh injury during Real Madrid’s Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund earlier this week. After assisting Lucas Vazquez for the third goal, Rodrygo pulled a muscle, and medical tests later confirmed an injury to his right thigh.
Meanwhile, Courtois has been out due to a recurring adductor injury. He first sustained this injury during the La Liga match against Atlético Madrid on September 29. After two weeks of recovery, he returned to perform well against Celta Vigo and Dortmund. However, his recent efforts in the Dortmund match aggravated the injury, necessitating another recovery period.
REAL MADRID STATEMENT ON THE INJURIES
The Brazilian winger sustained a thigh injury during Real Madrid’s Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund this week. After setting up Lucas Vazquez for the third goal, Rodrygo pulled a muscle, and subsequent medical examinations confirmed a right thigh injury.
On the other hand, Courtois has been sidelined with a recurring adductor injury. He initially injured himself during the La Liga match against Atlético Madrid on September 29. After two weeks of recovery, he made a strong return against Celta Vigo and Dortmund. However, his recent performance against Dortmund aggravated the injury, requiring him to enter recovery once more.
Madrid’s squad depth and adaptability will be put to the test as both teams vie for dominance. A win would not only propel Madrid to the top of La Liga but also allow them to match Barcelona’s record of 43 unbeaten matches, achieved between 2017 and 2018.
In the season’s first El Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid suffered a crushing 4-0 loss to fierce rivals Barcelona.
Real Madrid held their own in the first half, containing Barcelona’s attack and ending the half in a goalless draw. Despite their resilience, the defending champions couldn’t sustain the pressure, allowing Barcelona to capitalize on key opportunities in the second half and secure a commanding win.
The first half was tightly contested, with Madrid’s defense staying compact and Barcelona frequently using the offside trap. Kylian Mbappe nearly put Madrid ahead, but his goal was ruled offside by a narrow margin. However, Barcelona shifted the momentum after the break, taking control of the match.
Around ten minutes into the second half, Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring with a well-taken goal. Shortly after, he doubled Barcelona’s lead, putting Real Madrid under immense pressure. As the match progressed, Barcelona solidified their dominance, with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha adding two more goals in the closing stages to secure an emphatic victory.
Real Madrid’s goalkeeper, Andriy Lunin, had a difficult night. Although he made some crucial saves early on, including one from Yamal and a powerful attempt from Pedri, the lack of defensive support left him unable to prevent Barcelona’s goals.
Lucas Vazquez, Madrid’s right-back, showed improvement in the first half, containing Barcelona’s advances and making occasional offensive runs. However, his performance dropped in the second half, giving Lewandowski room to score and struggling to control Raphinha, who exploited the right side and was instrumental in Barcelona’s fourth goal.
Eder Militao had a mixed showing, displaying solidity in the first half with critical interventions, but he faltered after the break, finding himself out of position on Barcelona’s second goal and unable to contain Lewandowski.
Antonio Rudiger had a strong first half, marking Lewandowski closely and using his physicality effectively. In the second half, however, he struggled to maintain his form, giving Lewandowski too much space on the second goal and contributing to gaps in Madrid’s defensive structure.
Ferland Mendy faced early pressure from Lamine Yamal, managing to hold his ground initially. But he contributed little offensively and faltered after halftime, notably playing Lewandowski onside for the first goal.
Jude Bellingham, operating on the right side of midfield, worked hard but was unable to impact the game significantly. He tested Barcelona’s keeper, Inaki Pena, but his efforts were overshadowed by an offside call on Mbappe. In the second half, Bellingham missed a key chance to score when Madrid was down 0-2, capping off a frustrating evening for the midfielder.
Ultimately, Real Madrid’s defensive vulnerabilities in the second half allowed Barcelona to exploit openings and secure a decisive 4-0 win. This defeat underscored Madrid’s need to address defensive issues as they prepare for upcoming challenges.
