![[Subscription Customers Only] Jul 1, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez are pictured in the stands before the match during a round of 16 match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Hannah Mckay-Reuters via Imagn Images](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_56,w_3197,h_1798/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/384/01kk9s0737as9nt69fdz.jpg "[Subscription Customers Only] Jul 1, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez are pictured in the stands before the match during a round of 16 match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Hannah Mckay-Reuters via Imagn Images")
There hasn't been much consistency with Real Madrid this season, except in one area: injuries. As with the past few years, Real have had a number of players sidelined during key stretches of the season, ultimately costing the team trophies when all is said and done. The last thing needed right now is another injury, but unfortunately, that nightmare has just come true.
Real Madrid have announced via an official club statement that full-back Alvaro Carreras has been diagnosed with a muscle injury to his right calf and he will be sidelined for the time being as he goes through more tests and recovery, meaning he will miss the all-important Champions League clash with Manchester City and potentially more matches.
Real Madrid handed massive injury setback ahead of Man City
Carreras has been one of the few consistent players for Los Blancos this season and has easily been Real's best defender, stealing the title from the injured Eder Militao. The Spaniard has been one of the few players who shows up in big games this season, and with the two legs against Manchester City coming this week and next, his absence could be what determines whether Real advance to the quarter-finals or not.
The Spaniard now joins the list of David Alaba and Eder Militao as the defenders currently out injured, and becomes the latest defender in general to suffer an injury this season. Militao, Alaba, Rudiger, Asencio, Carvajal, Alexander-Arnold, Ferland Mendy, and now Carreras have all been sidelined at some point this season, a worrying pattern across not just the defense, but the team as a whole.
A number of midfielders and attackers have also been sidelined with injuries hindering Arbeloa's ability to pick his best and strongest XI, affecting the consistency of the team on the pitch which has ultimately costing the team results in recent weeks, adding more pressure on the players and coaching staff.
Arbeloa will now be without Carreras, Alaba, and Militao in defense against Manchester City, forcing Arbeloa's hand into calling on more backups in one of the biggest games of the season. The manager will surely go with one of two options, either Ferland Mendy or Eduardo Camavinga. Mendy put in an impressive performance in Real's victory over Celta Vigo, potentially solidifying his spot in the starting lineup this week. However we've seen Arbeloa call of Camavinga at left-back before this season, so it wouldn't be a surprise if we see him call on him once again against Manchester City.