Real Madrid may have suffered another midfield blow against Espanyol
Real Madrid lost to Espanyol 2-1 on LaLiga’s Matchday 8 in what can only be described as a disastrous result for Los Blancos.
The Royal Whites struggled mightily throughout the 90 minutes, with only Karim Benzema’s brilliant individual goal serving as any sort of consolation with the game already 2-0 against them.
The loss is a sobering one for Real Madrid heading into the international break this October. As with the result against Sheriff at midweek, this was one of those matches that Real was supposed to win.
According to a report from MARCA’s Juan Ignacio Garcia-Ochoa, Real Madrid center midfielder Eduardo Camavinga may have suffered an injury in the first half of the loss to Espanyol.
Eduardo Camavinga left the match at the half
This would explain why he was substituted in the 46th minute for Rodrygo Goes. Though, of course, Camavinga had been struggling in a bizarre wide midfield role of a 4-4-2, and Rodrygo came on to change the formation as a right-sided forward.
MARCA writes that Camavinga will be tested in France during the break, and then he will decide where to go from there.
The injury occurred during a yellow card play when left midfielder Adrian Embarba, who recorded an assist in the match for the home side, stomped on Camavinga’s foot after arriving late to a 50/50. At the time, there was some argument, but since Camavinga is dealing with pain, swelling, and a possible injury, the yellow card certainly seems warranted in hindsight.
Real Madrid have already suffered enough fitness concerns in midfield. Toni Kroos only recently returned from pubalgia, Dani Ceballos is still injured, and both Luka Modric and Casemiro are clearly fatigued.
Next. Real Madrid Player Ratings against Espanyol. dark
Hopefully, the young man from Rennes is not actually injured, or, at the very least, won’t have to miss time after the October international fixtures. Camavinga still needs to receive a defined role from embattled manager Carlo Ancelotti, but he has been stellar off the bench, changing the game in wins over Inter Milan, Valencia, and, of course, his goal-scoring Santiago Bernabeu debut against Celta Vigo.