Real Madrid face mounting injury concerns ahead of their Champions League debut against Inter Milan on Tuesday, with left-back Marc Cucurella joining an already lengthy casualty list. The Spanish defender suffered muscle cramps during the closing stages of Los Blancos' 2-1 defeat to Real Betis at the weekend, forcing an early exit from the pitch and casting doubt over his availability for the Italian giants.
According to reports, Cucurella's muscle complaint is not considered severe at this stage, but the tight recovery window presents a significant obstacle. With Real Madrid not returning to training until Sunday, the 26-year-old faces a race against time to prove his fitness before the opening fixture of their European campaign. The preferred option over Álvaro Carreras, Cucurella had started the Betis encounter before the physical discomfort ended his afternoon prematurely.
A Deepening Injury Crisis
The Cucurella setback compounds an already challenging situation in the Real Madrid treatment room. The club are currently without Aurélien Tchouaméni, Éder Militão, Rodrygo, Ferland Mendy and Endrick through injury, while midfielders Arda Güler, Bernardo Silva and Eduardo Camavinga remain unavailable due to suspension. This combination of absences has stretched Carlo Ancelotti's squad depth across multiple positions, particularly in defence where Cucurella's loss would be acutely felt against a lethal Inter Milan attack.
The Betis defeat marked Real Madrid's first loss of the season and has elevated the significance of next week's Champions League fixture to a potential turning point. How the Spanish champions respond to adversity—with key players sidelined and their perfect domestic record shattered—will set the tone for their European ambitions. Technical staff will closely monitor Cucurella's muscular condition over the coming days, with daily assessments likely to determine team selection by midweek.
Inter Milan arrive in Madrid as formidable opponents, and Real Madrid's injury-ravaged squad faces an early examination of their resilience in Europe's elite competition.
