Real Madrid bounced back from its first loss in almost 10 months by defeating Villarreal 2-0 in La Liga on Saturday, but they may have lost right back Dani Carvajal to injury.
Federico Valverde and Vinícius Júnior scored for the defending champions just four days after their 1-0 defeat to Lille in the Champions League, which ended a 36-game unbeaten streak across all competitions.
Madrid has now gone 41 consecutive matches without losing in the Spanish league. This win against third-placed Villarreal brought them to the same 21 points as Barcelona, which is set to play against Alaves on Sunday.
Carvajal got hurt during stoppage time in the second half at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. He fell in pain after making contact with an opponent’s leg and seemed to indicate something was wrong with his leg. He was seen crying as he was taken off the field on a stretcher.
“It looks like it’s a very serious knee injury,” said Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. “Everyone is sad and worried. It’s something that happens very often because of the calendar, and it has happened to a very important player in our squad.”
Ancelotti mentioned that Carvajal will undergo tests. Lucas Vázquez is the reserve right back for Madrid.
“Carvajal is a key player for us because of his experience and his attitude,” Ancelotti said of the 32-year-old defender, who began in Madrid’s youth teams and joined the main squad in the 2013-14 season.
Villarreal, which had won its last two matches, only managed one shot on target, while Madrid scored with both of their attempts.
Valverde found the net in the 14th minute with a long-range shot that deflected off a defender. Vinícius added another goal from outside the box in the 72nd minute, hitting the top corner.
