Éder Militão's injury overshadows Real Madrid's bounce-back win

Soccer News 2024/11/12 01:34

Real Madrid took out all their frustration following defeats in the Clasico to Barcelona and the Champions League to Milan with a comprehensive 4-0 win over Osasuna.


Vinicius Jr. brought his seasonal goal total to 12 and reminded you why he's always worth having around, despite what the pressing/analytics nerds say. Jude Bellingham also scored and Madridristas will hope it jump-starts his season. It's easy to be critical of the strutting, and he hasn't been near last season's level. It's also worth reminding ourselves that he only turned 21 in the summer and unlike last year, when he played in the hole with the team revolving around him, this year he's being shuffled around the pitch in Carlo Ancelotti's search of balance.


All of this, however, is overshadowed by Éder Militão's ACL injury, coming just seven months after his return from the previous one. There's an individual dimension to this -- first and foremost, you feel for the guy -- and there's a real-world impact on the team too. With Rodrigo and Lucas Vázquez suffering lesser injuries (plus Dani Carvajal and David Alaba already sidelined), Ancelotti ended the game with a back four of Fede Valverde, Antonio Rüdiger, Raúl Asencio and Fran García. Raul who? Yeah, this guy.


It's evident Real Madrid need to go back into the transfer market in January. Going into the season with Rudiger and Eder Militao as the only fit senior central defenders was already a stretch. (Alaba is expected to return later this month, but who knows what condition he'll be in.) That part is non-negotiable, because the only other options here are the aforementioned Asencio and Jesús Vallejo, who has started five games in four years and feels like a guy counting down the days to free agency. They'll also need cover at right-back and a passer in midfield, which is why I still like my Joshua Kimmich idea, but obviously that's subordinate to live bodies on the pitch.


Oh, and for those keeping score at home, yes, Thibaut Courtois and Aurélien Tchouaméni are also injured (though hopefully they'll be back after the break or shortly thereafter).

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