Real Madrid secured an important victory against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, but not all the news was positive for Carlo Ancelotti's team. Just four days before El Clásico against Barcelona, Rodrygo was forced to leave the field in the final minutes due to a muscle injury, confirming his absence for Saturday's match.

The Brazilian forward suffered a hamstring strain while playing a crucial role in a sequence that led to the comeback goal by Lucas Vázquez. Although the official diagnosis will be revealed on Thursday, the severity of the injury leaves little hope that he will be available for the big clash against the Blaugrana at the Santiago Bernabéu.

With Rodrygo out of action, Ancelotti faces a dilemma on how to reorganize his team. It seems likely that the Italian coach will tweak his system, opting to strengthen the midfield rather than directly replacing the former Santos player.

In midfield, the presences of Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde appear assured, while Luka Modric could start again after his solid performance against Dortmund. However, the main question lies between the two Frenchmen: Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga. While Tchouaméni has struggled with ball distribution, Camavinga has returned in good form after recovering from a knee injury.

A more remote option would be young Arda Güler, but his lack of minutes in recent matches suggests he won’t be Ancelotti's first choice. With Brahim Díaz still recovering from a muscle injury, the question of who will replace Rodrygo for El Clásico remains unresolved.

What is clear is that Rodrygo’s absence leaves a significant gap in Real Madrid’s attack, forcing Ancelotti to adjust his strategy for one of the most important matches of the season.