Carvajal ran into a problem during Friday's training session and had to work on his own, setting off alarm bells about a possible new injury at Real Madrid.
With 48 hours until Espanyol, Carvajal worked out in the gym. Due to a strong blow to his right foot that did not allow him to step on the grass, only the inside of the Valdebebas facilities. From the club, a message of calm is being sent. Because tomorrow, on the eve of the match, he is expected to be with the rest of the group without major problems.
But the doubt will not be completely cleared until the last training session is completed. Hence, why David Jimenez was among the list of academy players who completed the morning with the senior team. As a 'standby No. 2,' just in case.
Carvajal was not the only one who did specific exercises. Courtois and Mbappe did too, although in their cases with a more distant goal. For the visit of Espanyol, they are ruled out, and their greatest desire is to make it to the Clasico.
Thibaut is still chipping away at the stone since that blow on March 17. The one with which he held Real Madrid until halftime, but which has kept him sidelined ever since. Due to a rupture in the rectus anterior of his right quadriceps. That kept him out during the decisive stretch, but he wants to end the season on the field, returning against Barcelona.
Like Mbappe. In his case, due to an injury to the semitendinosus muscle in his left leg. He felt it in the final stretch of the match against Betis. In the 80th minute, he stopped and asked to be substituted. And after the swelling went down, tests determined it was more than just a strain.
From the beginning, they looked at the visit to Camp Nou. It was not ruled out, nor was it assured. And so Mbappe's horizon remains. Certainly, he will not be there against Espanyol, but he is in doubt against Barcelona, because there are possibilities.
A context similar to Carvajal's, but he is looking at Sunday. A kind of burning nail for the player from Leganes. He was looking to burn his last bullets in this final stretch ahead of the World Cup, with minutes. And they are eluding him.
He came up empty in the tie against Bayern, also against Betis, and his last start was against Girona, before playing the final half hour against Alaves. Espanyol appeared as an opportunity to start. Because the Clasico looks like it will be for Trent, but the blow to his foot could change everything.
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