Rodrygo Goes is set to be sidelined for approximately three weeks and is not expected to return to the pitch until after the international break. The Brazilian winger from Real Madrid sustained an injury during Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund. He underwent medical examinations on Thursday, which confirmed that he is suffering from a muscular injury in the hamstring of his right leg.
As anticipated, Rodrygo will miss the classic match on Saturday against Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu, as well as the upcoming fixtures for Real Madrid before international commitments take center stage in mid-November. If he adheres to the projected recovery timeline, which remains provisional due to the nature of the muscular injury, the Paulista will also be unavailable for Carlo Ancelotti for the matches against Valencia (November 2), Milan (November 5), and Osasuna (November 9), in addition to the aforementioned clash against Barcelona. The aim is for him to be fully fit for the match against Leganés, scheduled for November 24 at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque.
This setback is challenging for the Brazil international, who was trying to establish himself in the starting eleven for Real Madrid, particularly during a phase of the season where Ancelotti appears to favor a 4-4-2 formation, especially for more demanding fixtures, with Rodrygo being the weakest link in an attacking trident completed by Vinicius and Mbappé.
After three games without a start, Rodrygo returned to the lineup on Tuesday against Borussia Dortmund in the third round of the Champions League. He had a strong performance until the 83rd minute when he sprinted to save a ball heading out of play and felt a sharp pain in his right thigh. He accomplished his goal with a crucial play that allowed Lucas Vázquez to complete the comeback, scoring the third goal for Real Madrid, who won the match 5-2 after trailing by two goals at halftime.
Rodrygo celebrated the Galician full-back’s goal despite showing signs of pain and immediately requested to be substituted, which indicated the likelihood of an injury that would force him to take a break for several weeks. This prediction was fully confirmed on Thursday, leaving Real Madrid without another of their key players as they will also be without Courtois, Alaba, and Carvajal due to injuries for Saturday’s clash.
Rodrygo has accumulated 1,043 minutes of play so far this season, making him the eighth most used player by Ancelotti. He has played thirteen matches for Real Madrid since the campaign began, nine of which were as a starter and the other four as a substitute. He only did not participate in the match against Lille in the second round of the Champions League. To date, he has scored three goals and provided three assists. Additionally, he played two matches for Brazil during the October international break, completing 90 minutes in the ‘Canarinha’s’ 2-1 victory over Chile and contributing another 69 minutes in the ‘Verdeamarela’s’ 4-0 victory against Peru.