Real Madrid's preparations for their Champions League opener against Inter Milan have taken another unwanted twist, with Marc Cucurella facing a race against time after being forced off in the defeat to Real Betis.
The Spanish left-back was substituted in the 88th minute of Madrid's 1-0 loss at La Cartuja after suffering cramps, with Álvaro Carreras brought on to finish the match. José Mourinho subsequently confirmed that the problem was cramps rather than a serious injury.
Nevertheless, the timing could hardly be worse.
Madrid welcome Inter to the Santiago Bernabéu on Tuesday for their opening Champions League fixture, leaving Cucurella with only a few days to recover.
And with Mourinho already dealing with a sizeable list of absentees, even a minor fitness concern has suddenly become significant.
Cucurella Has Become an Important Piece for Mourinho
Cucurella had started against Betis and appeared to be Mourinho's preferred option at left-back.
The 27-year-old has moved into the side following his summer arrival from Chelsea, competing with Carreras for the position while Ferland Mendy continues his recovery from a long-term injury.
His late withdrawal therefore created an immediate problem for Mourinho.
Carreras is capable of filling the position, but losing Cucurella would remove another established option from a squad already being stretched by injuries and suspensions.
The good news for Madrid is that Mourinho's comments did not indicate a significant muscular injury.
The bad news is that there is now very little time for Cucurella to prove he is ready for Inter.
The Inter Game Already Had a Selection Problem
Even before Cucurella's late setback, Mourinho's options were being squeezed.
Madrid will be without Arda Güler, Eduardo Camavinga and Bernardo Silva through Champions League suspensions carried over from last season.
Aurelien Tchouameni is also a major concern after missing the entire start of the campaign with a muscle problem.
The midfield situation has become serious enough for teenage signing Sergio Martínez to be registered in Madrid's Champions League squad, despite initially arriving with the expectation of developing with Castilla.
Ferland Mendy is another confirmed complication.
The experienced French left-back was left out of Madrid's 25-man Champions League squad as he continues his recovery, with Martínez taking one of the available places.
That means Cucurella's fitness is now being watched particularly closely.
A Small Problem Could Create a Bigger One
The irony is that Madrid's left-back position initially appeared relatively secure despite Mendy's absence.
Cucurella and Carreras gave Mourinho two natural options, meaning the manager could afford to be cautious with Mendy.
But if Cucurella cannot recover in time, Carreras suddenly becomes the obvious solution against an Inter side arriving for one of the biggest fixtures of the opening Champions League round.
That would not necessarily represent a crisis on its own.
Carreras has already shown he can operate at this level.
The concern is the cumulative effect of the absences across Mourinho's squad.
The manager is losing players in different areas at precisely the moment when Madrid are entering their European campaign.
Madrid Need a Response After Betis Defeat
The timing of the setback is made even more uncomfortable by Friday's result.
Madrid suffered their first defeat of the season against Betis, losing 1-0 despite creating opportunities and controlling significant portions of the contest.
Troy Parrott scored the decisive goal, while Kylian Mbappé missed a late penalty that would have rescued a point.
Mourinho therefore needs his team to respond quickly.
Inter represent a much different challenge, with the Italian side arriving at the Bernabéu for Madrid's first Champions League fixture of the season.
A strong European performance would immediately push the Betis disappointment into the background.
Another setback, however, would make the early-season concerns considerably louder.
The Next Training Session Could Decide Cucurella's Fate
For now, there is no confirmation that Cucurella will miss the Inter match.
That distinction is important.
Mourinho's post-match explanation was clear: “Cramps.”
The club will therefore have to assess his recovery before making a final decision.
If he returns to training without complications, he could still retain his place at left-back.
If the problem lingers, Mourinho will have to turn to Carreras and potentially reshape his defensive plans.
Either way, the next few days have become crucial.
Madrid entered the season hoping Mourinho's return would bring stability and a renewed challenge for major honours.
Instead, the manager is already having to solve selection problems across his squad.
And with Inter arriving at the Bernabéu on Tuesday, there is no time to wait for the situation to improve.
Cucurella's Fitness Is Now Part of a Much Bigger Picture
One player suffering cramps would normally be a minor piece of team news.
At Real Madrid right now, it carries much greater significance.
Mendy is unavailable.
Tchouameni remains doubtful.
Three midfielders are suspended.
Other players are also dealing with fitness issues.
And now Cucurella, one of Mourinho's important options at left-back, must recover quickly if he is to face Inter.
The encouraging part is that there is no indication that Cucurella has suffered a serious injury.
But until he returns to full training, Mourinho cannot take his availability for granted.
Madrid's Champions League campaign is about to begin.
Their squad problems have arrived first.
Fan Debate
⚽ Goal: Marc Cucurella will recover in time to start against Inter Milan.
🔥 Fire: Real Madrid cannot afford another major absence with so many players already unavailable.
😲 Shock: Cucurella was forced off just days before Madrid's Champions League opener.
👍 Like: Álvaro Carreras can step up and handle the left-back position if Cucurella misses out.
💬 Comment: Who should start at left-back for Real Madrid if Cucurella cannot face Inter?
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