Another Real Madrid star is in danger of missing the El Clasico match
Real Madrid announced on Saturday, May 2, 2026, that defender Dani Carvajal suffered a broken toe, confirming his absence from the team's upcoming clash against Espanyol in La Liga.
The club explained in an official statement that medical examinations revealed a fracture of the distal salamella of the fifth toe of the right foot, without specifying the duration of his absence, noting that his condition will be followed up in the coming period.
According to Spanish press reports, Carvajal's absence may last for about two weeks, which threatens his participation in the Clásico match, knowing that the veteran player is going through a difficult season, as he did not return to full form after recovering from a severe cruciate ligament injury that kept him out of the stadiums for nearly ten months.
With his return, he faced strong competition for the right-back position, especially with Trent Alexander-Arnold emerging as a starting option, limiting his playing minutes, and with his participation declining and injuries recurring, the 34-year-old's chances of being with Spain at the 2026 World Cup seem slim, according to press reports.
The decisive Clásico
All eyes will be on the evening of Sunday, May 10 , 2026, at the Spotify Camp Nou, where Barcelona hosts rivals Real Madrid in the Clásico that may be the most sensitive of the season, given the possibility that he will play a direct role in determining the identity of the La Liga champions.
The match will take place at 22:00 Mecca time (21:00 Spanish time), within the 34th round of the league, amid great anticipation and competitive pressure unprecedented in recent weeks.
As of May 2, Barcelona enters the match with a clear advantage in the lead, Barcelona in first place – 85 points from 33 matches – a goal difference of +57, while Real Madrid is in second place – 74 points from 33 games – a goal difference of +37, and this difference of 11 points gives Barcelona a margin of safety, but it does not eliminate the importance of bothsides, especially for Real Madrid, who see the match as their last chance to revive their hopes of the competition.
Circumstances of the two teams and absences
Barcelona are going through an excellent period under Hansi Flick, benefiting from high attacking effectiveness and a variety of options on the bench, but injuries are imposing themselves strongly, with Lamine Yamal missing due to muscle problems, while Gavi, Christensen and Ter Stegen are all definitely absent.
Real Madrid go into the game fully focused on LaLiga after their Champions League exit against Bayern Munich, making the Clásico the "match of the season", and the team suffers from a severe defensive crisis with the absence of Eder Militão (who will also miss the World Cup), as well as David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger, while Dani Carvajal's participation remains uncertain.