Real Madrid delivered a decisive blow in the league race against Girona with a 4-0 victory, yet the club faced another setback as a familiar injury problem resurfaced this season. Star midfielder Jude Bellingham, who had already scored twice, left the field with what was later described as a double ankle sprain.
Following scans by Real Madrid Health Services, the diagnosis read: high-grade sprain of the left ankle. The medical report from the white team notes an expected evolution, as the club also lost another match in a friendly against Leipzig in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 held on Tuesday at 21:00. Bellingham is expected to be out for three weeks, with a return anticipated for the March 6 encounter at the Bernabéu. (Citation: Real Madrid medical update)
Bellingham scores despite the injury
Injuries have shadowed Real Madrid throughout the season. Yet the team has often managed to compensate for absences with emerging talents and tactical adjustments. In the league clash against Girona, a central pairing of Tchouaméni in midfield and Dani Carvajal on the right provided solidity, with the Spaniard adapting to a role he had rarely filled before.
The duo delivered a performance rooted in unity, even as the news from the medical side kept piling up for Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian coach continues to reinvent his approach game by game, underscoring his broader contribution beyond mere managing duties. Bellingham, though visibly hampered by pain, stayed on the field and even sealed a double in the opening minutes, his on-field resilience evident despite the setback.
Champions League ambition hinges on Leipzig return leg
Everything hinges on how quickly the standout league leader can recover. Bellingham’s left ankle remained swollen and painful, with tests confirming a high-grade sprain. The expectation is that he will miss the next four matches, complicating plans for trips to Leipzig, Vallecas, Seville, and Mestalla.
The medical team’s most realistic target remains March 6, when Real Madrid hosts Leipzig in the Champions League second leg. This comes despite a string of losses the team has endured under Ancelotti, who continues to adapt his lineup. Some players, like Vinícius, have managed to shorten recovery timelines, but Madrid cannot afford to lose the figure who acts as the team’s beacon today. (Citation: Team medical briefing)
Bellingham on the brink of a more serious injury scare
Jude Bellingham has already broken records in his first year in Spain, standing as Real Madrid’s most prolific scorer among midfielders in recent seasons. With 20 goals in his first 29 appearances for the club, he was eyeing a historic ascent. The aim for this season was to surpass the club’s midfield record of 26 goals in a single campaign set by Hierro in 1991/1992.
Earlier in the campaign, Bellingham had to sit out some games due to a shoulder issue. Even with a three-week setback, the Englishman narrowly escaped a more serious injury. If the ankle sprain had worsened, the prognosis could have mirrored past incidents—the Ajax injury to Vinícius in 2019 or the Casemiro blow against Celta in 2018.
Injuries of this kind can keep players out for extended periods, yet Bellingham’s ligament damage was not as severe as feared, limiting the impact to a three-week absence. The Bernabéu crowd watched their star go down with concern, and Real Madrid supporters breathed a cautious sigh of relief as the news became clearer. (Citation: Medical assessment and club statements)