Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Champions League debut for Real Madrid lasts just three minutes
Former Liverpool full-back, who has started just two of new club’s opening La Liga games, felt his hamstring early in clash with Marseille
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Champions League debut for Real Madrid lasted just three minutes after he was forced off with a hamstring injury.
The former Liverpool right-back has endured a testing start to his career in Madrid since his summer move having only started two of Real’s four La Liga games so far this season because of Xabi Alonso’s preference to rotate him with Dani Carvajal.
Alexander-Arnold was at least given the nod to start Real’s opening Champions League against Marseille on Tuesday night, but that is as good as it got for the England international.
The 26-year-old was seen to clutch his left hamstring as he dribbled in possession across the pitch, and immediately kicked the ball upfield before falling to the turf.
“As soon as that happens, you’ve got absolutely no chance,” said co-commentator Lucy Ward, speaking on TNT Sports. “He knows, and then it’s about damage limitation.”
After a period of treatment, Alexander-Arnold hobbled to the sideline and was replaced by club captain Carvajal.
Alonso has described the competition between Alexander-Arnold and Carvajal as “healthy” before the match, but England manager Thomas Tuchel will not have enjoyed seeing the defender limp out of yet another game. The German chose not to select him for the recent World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Serbia as he preferred Reece James and Tino Livramento in a “tighter, more competitive squad”.
It is also just seven weeks until Alexander-Arnold is due to reacquaint himself with his former club, meaning he faces a race against time to be fit for Real’s Champions League trip to Anfield on November 4.
Alonso’s night went from bad to worse when, after already losing his starting right-back, replacement Carvajal earned himself a straight red card following a VAR review for a headbutt on Marseille goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli, meaning Real stand to be without either for their next European match against FC Kairat at the end of the month – although Uefa have the option to extend the one-match ban given the dismissal was for violent conduct.
Any further suspension would impact the following match against Juventus, who drew 4-4 with Borussia Dortmund thanks to a 96th-minute equaliser from Lloyd Kelly.
Madrid did at least recover from an early setback to launch their bid to win a 16th European Cup with a victory, although it did not come easy to the Spanish side.
Timothy Weah capitalised on a schoolboy mistake by Real’s Arda Güler to put the French visitors ahead in the 22nd minute before Kylian Mbappé converted two penalties to secure a 2-1 victory.
Mbappé levelled after Rodrygo was clumsily tripped by Geoffrey Kondogbia.
The drama then reached fever pitch in the 72nd minute when Carvajal lost his temper and was sent off, but Mbappé had the final say after converting his second penalty following a controversial handball by Facundo Medina to complete Madrid’s comeback.
“It was a difficult night, because we were down to 10 men, but we showed our Champions League spirit at the Santiago Bernabeu. We know we can win here against anyone and we’re happy for the victory,” Mbappe told Movistar Plus.
“Analysing hand balls is very complicated. For me, it’s a penalty, but I understand that some people don’t think so. We’re all confused by this rule. They said it was a penalty, I took it and I scored.”
[Source: Daily Telegraph]
