Real Madrid Suffers Another Blow as Eder Militao Faces ACL Injury
In a significant setback for Real Madrid, Eder Militao has sustained an ACL injury, adding to the club’s recent injury struggles. The defender left the field in tears during the 50th minute of the LaLiga match against Athletic Bilbao, a game Madrid won 2-0 with goals from Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham.
The fears of Madrid fans were confirmed when it was announced on Sunday that the Brazilian international would be sidelined for several months due to the injury. This misfortune comes just days after goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois suffered the same injury during a training session, ruling him out for a major portion of the season.
The news of Eder Militao’s injury was made official in a statement released by Real Madrid on Sunday. The statement mentioned, “Following tests carried out on our player Eder Militao, he has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The player will undergo surgery in the coming days.”
The injury occurred when the 25-year-old defender challenged Oihan Sancet at the start of the second half. Unfortunately, Militao got caught in the grass during the challenge, resulting in the ligament tear. Despite the evident pain, he managed to leave the field with the assistance of the medical staff, without requiring a stretcher.
While the absence of Eder Militao leaves Real Madrid with limited defensive options, they have also been compelled to address the goalkeeping situation following Courtois’ injury. Chelsea’s Kepa Arrizabalaga is on the verge of joining Madrid on loan as a replacement for Courtois. Kepa was not part of Chelsea’s squad in their match against Liverpool, indicating an imminent transfer.
As Real Madrid faces the challenges posed by injuries, the team will be counting on players like Antonio Rudiger, Nacho Fernandez, and David Alaba to provide cover for the sidelined Militao. Although it remains uncertain whether Madrid will further explore the transfer market to find a replacement for Militao, the absence of key players poses a significant challenge for the club as they strive to recover from disappointments in both domestic and European competitions last season.
Looking ahead, Carlo Ancelotti’s side is set to face Almeria and Celta Vigo in their upcoming matches, building on their victorious start to the season.
