Real Madrid’s Champions League opener at the Santiago Bernabéu was disrupted within minutes when Trent Alexander-Arnold was forced off with a suspected hamstring injury.
The England defender, making only his third start of the season, pulled up on his third touch of the ball and immediately signalled for treatment.
After a brief assessment by medical staff, he was replaced in the fifth minute by captain Dani Carvajal, who returned strongly from his own long-term knee injury earlier this year.
The setback comes at a difficult time for Madrid boss Xabi Alonso, who is already without Ferland Mendy, Antonio Rüdiger and teenage forward Endrick, while defender Dean Huijsen begins a two-match suspension.
Alonso had limited Alexander-Arnold’s minutes at the weekend in hopes of easing him into full fitness, but the plan unravelled swiftly under the floodlights of Europe’s biggest stage.
The silver lining for Los Blancos lies in the return of Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga, both fit again after spells on the sidelines.
Their availability may help offset defensive absences as Madrid chase another deep run in Europe’s elite competition.
