Dani Carvajal Injury Update: Serious Ligament Damage Confirmed

Dani Carvajal has confirmed that he will require surgery after suffering a serious cruciate ligament injury during Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Villarreal at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. The Spain right-back was left in visible pain after seemingly over-extending his knee in a collision with Yeremy Pino during added time. He was stretchered off the pitch in tears, adding a somber note to Real Madrid’s otherwise successful night.

“Serious cruciate ligament injury confirmed, I’m going to have to go through surgery and be off the field for a few months,” Carvajal, 32, wrote on Instagram. Despite the setback, he remained optimistic, adding, “Already looking forward to starting recovery and coming back like a beast.”

The injury is a significant blow for Real Madrid, who rely heavily on Carvajal’s experience and defensive contributions. Speaking immediately after the victory, which continued Real Madrid’s unbeaten start to the La Liga season, manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed his concerns for the player. “The players are sad and worried for Carvajal,” Ancelotti said. “Something happened that occurs often because of the congested calendar, and it happened to a very, very important player for us.”

A statement from Real Madrid on Sunday confirmed that Carvajal had suffered multiple injuries, including a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, a ruptured external collateral ligament, and a ruptured popliteus tendon in his right leg. The statement also mentioned that the 32-year-old will undergo surgery in the coming days.

In addition to the injury news, Real Madrid announced that Dani Carvajal has extended his contract with the club until June 30, 2026. This extension comes as a show of confidence from the club, despite the recent setback. “Real Madrid would like to show him all its support and affection and wishes him a speedy recovery so that we can enjoy his football on the pitch again as soon as possible,” the club said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid also provided an injury update on Vinicius Junior, revealing that the Brazilian forward had suffered a neck injury, and his progress would be monitored. These injury setbacks cast a slight shadow over an otherwise strong performance by the team.

Real Madrid’s victory against Villarreal came after their shock defeat by Lille in the Champions League on Wednesday. Federico Valverde opened the scoring for Real Madrid in the 14th minute when his shot from the edge of the box found the bottom left corner, helped by a deflection off Alex Baena. The early goal put Real Madrid in control of the match.

Villarreal almost equalized moments later when Nicolas Pepe’s header clipped the crossbar following Baena’s cross. Thierno Barry also had a chance shortly afterward but sent his header over the bar. Despite these attempts, Real Madrid’s defense stood firm.

Vinicius Junior ensured the victory for Real Madrid with a stunning strike from long range, 17 minutes from time. The fierce shot sailed into the top corner, sealing the 2-0 win and showcasing Vinicius’s attacking flair.

Real Madrid had additional opportunities to extend their lead, with Antonio Rudiger sending a header over the bar and Jude Bellingham’s long-range effort going wide of the post. Villarreal thought they had earned a penalty five minutes after the break when Aurelien Tchouameni fouled Barry, but the offside flag was raised, ruling out the possibility.

As Villarreal continued to press, Alex Baena’s 25-yard free-kick grazed the side-netting, but they ultimately failed to break down Real Madrid’s defense. The result means that Real Madrid have now gone 41 La Liga matches unbeaten (30 wins and 11 draws), making it the second-best unbeaten streak in the competition’s history. Only rivals Barcelona have a better record, with a 43-game unbeaten run (34 wins and nine draws) set in 2018.

The match highlighted both Real Madrid’s resilience and the challenges they face in dealing with injuries to key players. While Dani Carvajal’s absence will undoubtedly be felt, Real Madrid’s depth in the squad will be crucial as they navigate the rest of the season.

With a solid performance and a continuation of their unbeaten streak, Carlo Ancelotti’s side will hope to build on this momentum while keeping an eye on the health and recovery of their injured stars. Dani Carvajal’s recovery timeline remains uncertain, but the right-back’s determination to return “like a beast” suggests that fans can expect to see him back in action, contributing to Real Madrid’s defense once again.

The victory against Villarreal not only reaffirmed Real Madrid’s position as title contenders but also demonstrated the depth and strength of the squad. Despite the injury concerns, Ancelotti’s men have proven that they can overcome setbacks and continue their quest for La Liga glory.