Problems for Real Madrid! Dani Ceballos is injured and will be out for two months

Real Madrid left San Sebastián with one foot in the Copa del Rey final, but with a significant absence in their midfield. The victory against Real Sociedad (0-1) was overshadowed by the injury of Dani Ceballos, who had been a starter for Carlo Ancelotti this 2025, helping Fede Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni in recovery. However, the 28-year-old player will be out for at least 8 weeks (2 months) due to a muscle injury.

The Utrera native had been one of the best players for the 'merengue' team at the Reale Arena, but in stoppage time he suffered an accidental blow with Take Kubo while contesting a ball. Both players collided knees, with the '19' Madrid player coming off worse. Ceballos tried to continue on the field, as 'Carletto' had already exhausted his substitution windows. However, the pain prevented him from even putting weight on his left leg, and Madrid had to play with ten men for the last minutes of stoppage time.

According to the official medical report, Dani suffers from "a lesion in the semimembranosus muscle affecting the tendon of the left leg". Initially, this muscle problem will keep him out for around two months, meaning he will miss at least 11 matches, pending whether the team remains alive in the UEFA Champions League. If they manage to progress against Real Sociedad, the Spanish midfielder could return for the Copa final on April 26 at La Cartuja.

Real Madrid loses Dani Ceballos for the decisive stretch of the season

Ceballos had been a starter for Real Madrid in 10 of the 17 matches played this 2025, contributing one assist in the Cup against Celta (5-2) and another in the Champions League in the first leg of the 'play-off' against City (2-3). The injury could not have come at a worse time, just before the Champions tie against Atlético de Madrid and with the 'merengues' in a fierce battle for the top of LaLiga. Now, 'Carletto' will be forced to return Fede Valverde to the midfield or, if he decides to keep the Uruguayan as a right-back, to trust Eduardo Camavinga, who has had a season to forget.

After the medical report was released, the Utrera native posted a message on his Instagram account: "Very sad for not being able to help my team in this crucial stretch of the season. And very sad for having to stop at what I felt was my best moment... But football is like this, it is not always easy, and much less fair. So I have to face it with strength, with the desire to fight, and with the certainty that I will come back even stronger," Dani wrote.