Real Madrid suffered an unexpected blow right before one of the most decisive matches of their season. Franco Mastantuono, one of the most influential players in Xabi Alonso’s system, was ruled out after being diagnosed with pubalgia, confirmed by the club’s medical staff. The injury, detected after the match against Valencia, comes at the worst possible moment: a trip to Athens, where Madrid have never won in their history.

The club’s statement was brief but forceful, simply noting that the player is “pending evolution.” With no official timeline, it is practically certain that Mastantuono will miss the upcoming Champions League clash against Olympiacos, as well as the LaLiga trips to Girona and Athletic Club. The loss affects not only performance but also the morale of a team already dealing with concerns over its inconsistent form in recent weeks.

A Madrid Running Out of Fuel: Doubts, Injuries and a Pressured Locker Room

Real Madrid arrive in Athens winless in their last three games: a defeat at Anfield against Liverpool and draws against Rayo Vallecano and Elche. While the league standings remain unchanged, the overall feeling around the team is far from the optimism that surrounded the early matches of the “Xabi Alonso project.”

The coach needs an immediate reaction, especially in a venue where history works against them. Madrid have never won in Greece: nine visits, six defeats and three draws, four of them against Olympiacos, Wednesday’s opponent. And to make matters worse, Alonso heads into this challenge with a practically improvised backline.

With Éder Militao, David Alaba, Antonio Rüdiger and now Dean Huijsen out, Raúl Asencio is the only natural centre-back available. This will force Alonso to shift players out of position: Aurélien Tchouaméni, recently recovered, could drop into the backline, along with Álvaro Carreras or even Ferland Mendy.

Adding to this defensive puzzle is the responsibility on Andriy Lunin, who will defend Madrid’s goal without having played a single minute this season. Dani Carvajal and the injured Franco Mastantuono complete the list of absences at one of the most delicate moments of the campaign.

Olympiacos Must Strike; Madrid Must Survive

Olympiacos are also living through a clash of contrasts. They dominate the Greek Super League, but their European form has raised concerns: losses to Arsenal and Barcelona, plus draws against Pafos and PSV. Sitting 31st out of the 36 Champions League teams, they must beat Madrid to stay alive.

Their main weapon will be the duo of Mehdi Taremi and Ayoub El Kaabi, playing in a Georgios Karaiskakis stadium where they are unbeaten in nine straight European matches.

For Madrid, the mission is simple: win to heal wounds and send a message of unity. For Xabi Alonso, the challenge is even bigger: showing that his team can compete even without one of its most decisive players.