Real Madrid may have made an average start to their defences of last season’s La Liga and Champions League titles, but they haven’t been helped by a bundle of injuries during the opening months of the 2024/25 season.
Los Blancos were perfectly balanced last term as they claimed the double but severe blows to the likes of David Alaba, Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao have meant manager Carlo Ancelotti has often had to shuffle his pack.
They have work to do in Spain and Europe but Madrid were dealt a blow in the aftermath of their 3-0 victory over Leganes when it emerged talismanic forward Vinicius Junior had suffered a hamstring injury and may not be available again until the new year.
With some huge fixtures on the horizon, here are the games Vinicius could miss as he faces a period on the sidelines.
Vinicius isn’t a total stranger to injuries. He made 39 appearances for Madrid last season, a drop from the previous two campaigns when he totted up 52 and 55 games, but still enjoyed his best goalscoring term at the Bernabeu by striking 24 times in all competitions.
It wasn’t enough to hand the 24-year-old a maiden Ballon d’Or triumph – a decision which was taken almost as an insult by the Brazilian superstar – and his quest for next year’s shiny gold ball has already been rocked by a hamstring blow.
In terms of the immediate future, Vinicius has been ruled out of one of the most glamorous Champions League ties possible when Madrid battle Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday. The winger scored twice on Los Blancos’ last trip to Merseyside, dragging them level after Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah had fired the Reds into an early 2-0 lead. It ended up 5-2 to the visitors on that February day in 2023, but such a result this week would be truly shocking given the two teams’ respective runs of form so far in 2024/25.
Madrid have lost just one of their last 21 matches with Getafe and won’t expect to drop points at the Bernabeu even without Vinicius. It will be tougher three days later when Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and co travel to Bilbao to face Athletic Club.
Surprise Champions League qualifiers Girona have found their feet after a tricky start to the campaign and have some crafty attackers who could provide Madrid with a number of problems, while a trip to the Italian city of Bergamo shortly after will be fascinating.
The Champions League and Europa League winners have already duelled this campaign, with Mbappe scoring his first Madrid goal in a 2-0 win to claim the UEFA Super Cup, but Atalanta are capable of making life difficult for the best teams around and their meeting at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia is a truly tantalising one.
Rayo Vallecano have proven annoying customers for Madrid of late, with last season’s fixtures ending in two draws, and Vinicius’ probable absence will leave manager Ancelotti needing stars elsewhere in his squad to step up in the Spanish capital derby.
As reigning European champions, Madrid are due to play in the final of the new FIFA Intercontinental Cup, which was replaced the reformatted Club World Cup, on 18 December in Qatar. Their opponent is not confirmed, but is likley to be 2024’s Copa Liberatdores winners: Botafogo or Atletico Mineiro.
Madrid’s last game before Christmas is a home clash with Sevilla, who have dropped into the bottom half of La Liga in recent years. The point deficit to leaders Barca at the top of the division has dropped in the last few gameweeks and Los Blancos could very well head into their winter break having usurped their Clasico rivals.
Vinicius’ spluttering partnership with Mbappe has been one of the talking points of the season but the France captain will now get the chance to be his side’s outright leading light in attack.
Madrid don’t have any scheduled games between Christmas Day and the first week of January, meaning Vinicius has some time over the festive period to fully complete his rehabilitation and be fit for the start of the Supercopa de Espana in the first month of 2025.
|
Date |
Kick-off Time (GMT) |
Fixture |
|---|---|---|
|
27/11/24 |
20:00 |
Liverpool vs Real Madrid |
|
01/12/24 |
15:15 |
Real Madrid vs Getafe |
|
04/12/24 |
20:00 |
Athletic Club vs Real Madrid |
|
07/12/24 |
20:00 |
Girona vs Real Madrid |
|
10/12/24 |
20:00 |
Atalanta vs Real Madrid |
|
14/12/24 |
20:00 |
Rayo Vallecano vs Real Madrid |
|
18/12/24 |
18:00 |
Real Madrid vs TBC |
|
22/12/24 |
15:15 |
Real Madrid vs Sevilla |