With the focus firmly on Real Madrid’s latest European adventure, Carlo Ancelotti shuffled his pack ahead of the Champions League semi-final second leg against Manchester City on Wednesday.
Eduardo Camavinga was one of only two – alongside Federico Valverde – to retain his place in the starting XI for Madrid’s league game against Getafe. However, the normally durable 20-year-old was forced off in the 84th minute of Madrid’s 1-0 win on Saturday with an injury that has cast a cloud of doubt over his involvement at the Etihad.
During his second season in the Spanish capital, Camavinga has made more appearances than any other Madrid player, failing to make the squad for just one of the club’s 56 matches across six competitions (and that was due to suspension).
Here’s everything you need to know about a rare injury for the thrilling prodigy.
Camavinga pulled up holding his knee against Getafe. With the infamous Jose Bordalas back at the helm of Saturday’s visitors, Madrid were on the end of 22 fouls – the second-highest tally they have suffered in La Liga all season.
When detailing the damage done to Camavinga, Ancelotti was quick to downplay the severity of the contact injury. “He had a small twist in his knee,” the Italian manager revealed post-game, “but it’s a blow, nothing more.”
Since making the £34.4m move to Madrid from Rennes in the summer of 2021, Camavinga hasn’t missed a single club game through injury. While bursting through as a prodigious teenager at the Ligue 1 side, Camavinga was forced to sit out a grand total of five games with nothing more serious than a minor knock back in 2020.
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The key fixture ringed in red for Real Madrid is the imminent trip to Manchester City. Camavinga breezed between the Premier League holders to tee up Vinicius Junior for Madrid’s opener in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final last week.
Kevin De Bruyne spanked a stunning strike of his own into the bottom corner to equalise on the night, ensuring that the contest on Wednesday is a straight shootout for a spot in the final against one of AC Milan or Internazionale.
After the Getafe match, Ancelotti insisted: “Everyone should be ready to face Manchester City.” A subsequent scan on Camavinga’s knee has justified the coach’s optimism, with The Athletic reporting that the converted full back only suffered a “very slight sprain”.
Following the decisive tie against City, Madrid finish La Liga with four games against Valencia, Rayo Vallecano, Sevilla and Athletic Club. If Los Blancos can navigate a way past Pep Guardiola’s imperious outfit, Camavinga will have the chance to feature in a second successive Champions League final on Saturday 10 June.
Real Madrid’s upcoming fixture list
Date / Kick-Off Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
17/05/23 – 20:00 | Man City vs Real Madrid (Champions League) |
21/05/23 – 17:30 | Valencia vs Real Madrid |
25/05/23 – 21:00 | Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano |
28/05/23 – 18:00 | Sevilla vs Real Madrid |
04/06/23 – 18:00 | Real Madrid vs Athletic Club |
If Camavinga’s injury is worse than first feared, Ancelotti has a number of unsatisfying alternatives. The Frenchman has been operating as a roaming left-back in recent weeks but was replaced in the back four on Saturday by the returning Ferland Mendy.
The only natural senior left-back in the squad after Marcelo’s departure, Mendy was making his first league start since January last weekend. Nacho Fernandez has proven to be an able deputy in Mendy’s absence but, as a right-footed centre-back, lacks the attacking verve of Camavinga and cuts an awkward figure when he does reluctantly trundle forward.
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