Real Madrid may have secured a 2–1 victory over Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, but the win was overshadowed by Jude Bellingham’s injury.
The England midfielder was forced off after just nine minutes of play after experiencing clear discomfort in his hamstring while chasing a through ball from teammate Franco Mastantuono.
Bellingham managed to leave the pitch without assistance, but was in tears as he made his way off. Real Madrid are now preparing for a significant absence, especially if a serious hamstring injury is confirmed.
According to Diario AS, at the very least Real Madrid will be without Bellingham for a month.
However, that timeframe could be extended depending on whether a muscle tear is diagnosed and, if so, its severity.
If Bellingham is sidelined for exactly one month, he would miss next weekend’s trip to Valencia, as well as matches against Real Sociedad, Benfica (twice), Osasuna and Getafe.
At minimum, the Los Blancos hierarchy would hope to have him fit in time for the Madrid derby against Atlético Madrid on the weekend of March 21/22 — a date that would be realistic if the injury proves less serious than initially feared.
Bellingham’s absence is a major blow for Real Madrid head coach Álvaro Arbeloa, who considers the midfielder one of the team’s untouchable players.
Nevertheless, he will have to find a solution, with options such as Brahim Díaz, Arda Güler and Rodrygo Goes available to operate in the attacking midfield role.
It remains to be seen how long Bellingham will be sidelined, but in Madrid there is hope for positive news, with medical tests expected to be carried out within the next 24–48 hours.
