Real Madrid will only have two senior defenders available for their LaLiga clash with Deportivo Alaves next weekend.
Eder Militao suffered a fresh injury, while Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras were sent off in Madrid’s shock defeat to Celta Vigo on Sunday night.
Eder Militao Adds to Real Madrid’s Injury Crisis
Real Madrid centre-back Eder Militao had to be helped off the field in the 2-0 defeat to Celta Vigo at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Brazilian picked up a knock as he prevented Pablo Duran from getting his shot away in the 21st minute.
Militao initially went out to receive treatment, but he was unable to continue. In the 24th minute, Antonio Rudiger, who had only recently recovered from an injury, came on as a substitute.
Éder Militão has been so unlucky with injuries in recent years and he has once again left the pitch with what seems to be a serious problem
Fingers crossed its a speedy recovery for the Brazilian pic.twitter.com/nISjNAZEAx
— OneFootball (@OneFootball) December 7, 2025
Real Madrid are reportedly very concerned about Militao’s latest setback, fearing a hamstring tear. If surgery is required, Militao could be out for three months or more.
Following Militao’s injury, Los Blancos now have six senior defenders on the treatment table. He joins Dani Carvajal, Dean Huijsen, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Alexander-Arnold’s potential two-month injury absence has come as a massive blow to his hopes of securing a place in England’s 2026 World Cup squad.
Garcia and Carreras See Red Card in Celta Defeat
Eder Militao was not the only defender Real Madrid lost in Sunday’s defeat to Celta Vigo.
In the 63rd minute, 10 minutes after Williot Swedberg’s opening goal, Fran Garcia picked up a yellow card for a professional foul on Sergio Carreira.
The following minute, Garcia barged into Swedberg after he released the ball. The referee, Alejandro Quintero, immediately reached for another yellow, sending the left-back off.
Real Madrid were given two red cards and two yellow cards in just a minute. pic.twitter.com/4hdaXN7yuV
— sirkings media ⚽ (@sirkings97715) December 7, 2025
In the second minute of injury time, Real Madrid lost Alvaro Carreras, as the referee showed him a straight red card for dissent. The Spaniard was sent to the referee’s book the previous minute for the same reason.
According to the official report, Carreras’ straight red was due to “an insult toward the referee” for protesting his yellow card.
The minute after Carreras’ dismissal, Swedberg scored his second goal to seal the win for Celta.
Only Two Senior Defenders Available for Real Madrid vs Alaves
Following Eder Militao’s injury and the double suspension of Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras, Real Madrid will only have Raul Asencio and Antonio Rudiger for Sunday’s trip to Alaves.
Both Asencio and Rudiger are natural centre-backs, meaning Madrid will have to use two makeshift full-backs. Unless Xabi Alonso turns to the Real Madrid Castilla squad, two midfielders are likely to fill in.
Midfielders Could Come to the Rescue
At right-back, Federico Valverde is the obvious choice. The Uruguayan has played as a right-back several times since last season.
He last started as a right-back in the goalless draw with Rayo Vallecano.
Eduardo Camavinga, meanwhile, is the favourite for the left-back position.
Last season, Carlo Ancelotti used the Frenchman as a left-back, and he expressed his willingness to play wherever his team needed him.
Alternatively, Xabi Alonso could use Aurelien Tchouameni as the centre-back, pairing him up with Antonio Rudiger. In that case, Asencio could take the left-back position, with Valverde manning the right.
Tchouameni has served as a centre-back several times since the 2024/25 season, and his positional awareness makes him a strong candidate for the role.
However, before the trip to Alaves, Real Madrid have a Champions League date with Manchester City.
While Alavaro Carreras and Fran Garcia will be available for that match, their defensive performance may not fill Alonso with confidence.
