Real Madrid Suffers Major Midfield Injury Setback After Victory Over Real Sociedad

Real Madrid have confirmed that midfielder, Dani Ceballos, suffered a thigh muscle injury in the closing stages of Wednesday night’s Copa del Rey encounter with Real Sociedad.

Madrid triumphed in the first leg of the semi-final against San Sebastian, thanks to a decisive goal by Endrick in the 19th minute.

Carlo Ancelotti’s squad is now filled with confidence as they set their sights on advancing to the final, aiming for what would be just their second Copa victory in the last decade.

However, the first leg, despite concluding in victory, left a somber note. In stoppage time, Ceballos suffered a knee-to-knee collision with former Madrid winger, Takefusa Kubo, appearing to be in significant distress as he departed the pitch.

He was subsequently assisted by medical staff and was unable to place weight on his right leg, raising concerns about his condition.

But the knee isn’t the problem, it’s a muscle issue in his other leg. The images of the collision highlighted a potential overstretch from the left leg as he tried to hook his right foot around the ball.

Although it once seemed that Ceballos might be deemed surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu, demonstrated by his two-year loan at Arsenal, he has since cemented his place as an important figure within the squad.

At 29, while he may not always be the first-choice player, he serves as a vital rotation option, significantly enhancing the team’s versatility.

Due to Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde often being shifted from midfield to reinforce the injury-plagued defense, alongside injuries to Eduardo Camavinga and the age limitations of Luka Modric, Ceballos has seized his chance to shine.

This season, he has made 30 appearances across all competitions. Notably, 16 of those appearances have come as a starter.

Madrid hasn’t offered a timeframe for his recovery, but AS has reported it could be “at least” two months before Ceballos is back on the pitch, potentially a huge blow for the club.

The player is unlikely to return until the end of April at the earliest, which means he will miss key matches in La Liga, the Champions League, and the Copa del Rey during a critical phase of the season.