Real Madrid’s injury epidemic: top stars sidelined, what’s behind the crisis?

Real Madrid finds themselves in the dark days as, at a certain point, cruciate ligament injuries are impossible to keep looking away from. The case of Éder Militão, a key element in defense, has brought to light this constant and worrying issue. In the last fourteen months, a total of ten players fell to the same injury-a scary frequency that reflects on work done both in physical training and internal medical aspects.

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Perhaps Militão's case is the most symbolic, with evidence of just how deep the problem is: it had already been subjected to the dreaded rupture of his right knee ligament last season, now also with his left knee involved. In a highly theatrical situation, he fell on the ground writhing in pain in the field during a Real Madrid victory over Osasuna in the 13th round of LaLiga. That was painful to watch, and those few minutes seemed like an eternity. At least nine months into his recovery, the Brazilian again sees his season being cut short .

The Growing List of Absences

Militão's injury is the latest but by no means an isolated incident. Real Madrid's casuality list in terms of ligament tears is padlocked with some heavy hitters. Another defensive stronghold, David Alaba, has been out since December 2023 after an injury to the cruciate ligament during a match with Villarreal. The prolonged absence of the Austrian has already stretched to almost a year with no certainty over his return. This season, it wasn't even waiting until the games got officially underway that the injury curse hit. In a friendly against Milan during pre-season, César Palacios became the next player to suffer damage to his ligaments. Along with him, young talents of the academy, like Joan Martínez and Daniel Mesonero, have fallen prey to the very same injury. Furthermore, one of the team's veterans got injured in October - an incredible number of absentees within such a short period of time, too often to be just a coincidence.

Injuries and Match Routine: Fatigue or Physical Preparation?

And one would not need to rely on bad luck for an explanation when the frequency of such injuries at Real Madrid happens once every month and a half. At this rate, questions are raised, and definitely, one would have to ask what the causes are: whether the tight, high-stakes schedule typical of elite soccer pushes players' bodies beyond their limits or whether the club's physical preparation and recovery regimen is insufficient.

Muscle fatigue, according to sports science, is one of the highest risk factors to take a severe injury. While teams like Real Madrid have the best of facilities, it is very plausible that their bodies are being pushed at a dangerous frequency. The intensity of training sessions and recoveries between games-especially after seasons packed with fixtures-become crucial elements in preventing injuries like these. But something in this training/games/rest cycle would seem not to be functioning as it should.

Young Players Falling Too

Another disturbing fact of this streak of injuries is the toll it has taken on Real Madrid's youth academy. Throughout the last year, apart from key names like those from the first team, we have witnessed young potential stars like Joan Martínez and Daniel Mesonero go through the same injury. These young kids, carrying with them the burden of an auspicious future, already see interruptions in their careers.

What becomes most worrying, either for fans or experts, is to witness the emergence of such a serious and recurrent injury among young talents. This definitely jeopardizes not only the physical development but also the medical support provided for the rising stars of the club and who should be in their prime learning and development phases.

Impact on Club and Season

For Real Madrid, these injuries are not only a physical blow but also a morale and planning one for the team. Teams like Real Madrid plan every season to win titles, so losing key players is a huge setback. Having to reorganize a rear guard without Militão, Carvajal, and Alaba would require not only tactical changes but the use of players in other positions.

Constant substitutions due to injury disrupt team cohesion, and with each extended absence taken by a starter, a bit of team stability is chipped away. Such inconsistency could be very costly in high-stakes competitions like LaLiga and Champions League, where every point does count.