There’s nothing like a major injury that can completely change the narrative of the season, and the 2024/25 LaLiga title race – and even the race for European places – has been significantly impacted by major ailments.
Here are just five of the biggest injuries of the current season.
Real Madrid RB Dani Carvajal
When reigning European Championship, LaLiga, and Champions League winner Dani Carvajal went down with a season-ending ACL tear in early October, everyone knew Real Madrid were going to be in deep trouble thereafter.
Real Madrid had failed to sign adequate cover for Carvajal at right back, and the age-old question became an immediate nightmare, especially with no real chance of signing an adequate player in the winter transfer window (free-agent-to-be Trent Alexander-Arnold certainly wasn’t going to leave another Champions League title contender in the middle of the season).
Predictably, Real Madrid have lost ground in the title race because of this injury, as de facto backup right back Lucas Vazquez has truly fallen off a cliff at the position this season, and with Real still trailing Barcelona in LaLiga, this may be the injury we look back on as the real turning point of the season for Los Blancos.
Now, there is word that Carvajal could return for Real Madrid, and he’s actually already back in training. But while he could be the difference in the Champions League as Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois were as returnees last season, you have to wonder if the damage has already been done, even with Real still close in the table.
Barcelona DM Marc Bernal
The first season-ending injury of the campaign, Barcelona defensive midfielder Marc Bernal burst onto the scene just about as quickly as he left it, thanks to an ACL tear against Rayo Vallecano back in August.
Bernal only played three games before his injury, but he was absolutely commanding the pitch defensively with nearly three tackles per game while completing 93 percent of his pass attempts.
I’d hesitate to call him a Sergio Busquets regen, but he absolutely looked like the short and long-term solution at the position before he went down. Imagine how dominant Barcelona could have been in midfield with Bernal and Marc Casado running the show together.
Real Madrid CB Eder Militao
Not long after the Dani Carvajal blow, Real Madrid lost their best center back, Eder Militao, to a torn ACL for the second season in a row in early November. And although David Alaba is finally back from his ACL tear and, better yet, young Raul Asencio has been doing his best Sergio Ramos impression at the Santiago Bernabeu, there is no replacement for Militao.
The Militao injury forced Aurelien Tchouameni to play at center back again, and that cost Real Madrid just as many games as Lucas Vazquez has at right back. Right now, Asencio and Antonio Rudiger are the only competent center backs, and neither of them are quite at the world-class level that Militao is.
Combined with the Carvajal injury, you have to wonder how much further ahead Real Madrid would be in the LaLiga table if they never lost quite literally their two best defenders to injury.
Barcelona DM Marc Casado
As if the Marc Bernal blow – as well as a number of other serious injuries throughout the season – wasn’t enough, Barcelona just lost their other phenomenal young, breakout defensive midfielder to injury.
Marc Casado is out for two months – effectively, the rest of the season – with a partial tear in the lateral collateral ligament of his right knee, putting a damper on an incredible 4-2 comeback victory over Atletico Madrid that may end up sending the title back to Catalunya.
Before his injury, Casado was an X-Factor in midfield for Barcelona and a very necessary new star for Hansi Flick, especially after Bernal’s injury. He has displayed decent passing quality, excellent defensive work, and plenty of ability to get out of tight situations on the ball and progress it up the pitch.
Real Betis AM Giovani Lo Celso
RealBetis playmaker Giovani Lo Celso picked up right where he left off in LaLiga upon his return to Spain after struggling to make an impact in the Premier League in North London. Not only that, but he’s back at Real Betis, the club where he first became a true star in European football.
Lo Celso was legitimately one of the best players in the league this season before suffering a string of injuries to his hamstring, adductor, and other soft-tissues. So far, Lo Celso has missed 15 matches for the Verdiblancos, and, at 28, there should be mild concern regarding his future risk of injury.
Still not back after his latest ailment, Lo Celso’s absences have collectively impacted Real Betis in the table. They are still sixth, but you wonder if they’d be in the driver’s seat for Champions League qualification – or more – if the man with 7 goals in 11 starts and 2.3 key passes and 3.8 fouls drawn per 90 didn’t have to miss so many games.
When he does come back, Betis will be scarier than ever. Antony has been one of the top players in the league since joining on loan from Manchester United, and a healthy Isco has also been revived, having led the way in Betis’s 2-1 win over his former employers Real Madrid.
Joe Soriano covers West Ham for Green Street Hammers and writes about Real Madrid for The Real Champs. He has extensive experience covering world football since 2014. Joe is an editor for The Trivela Effect, where he covers the biggest clubs in European football. He has watched professional sports regularly since 2002 and can be found playing the same sports he covers with his friends.