The Real Madrid striker had to go off injured within 20 minutes against Osasuna

Real Madrid striker Rodrygo returned to the starting line-up in the hope of a strong showing, but his appearance against Osasuna was cut short.

Early in the game, the striker showed signs of discomfort, which only got worse as the game progressed. Just 20 minutes into the game, he had to request a substitution due to a muscle injury, which brought his performance to a halt much earlier than expected.

Ancelotti trusted his preferred attacking trio and expected a powerful performance from his strikers. However, Rodrygo seemed to struggle physically from the start and it became clear that he was not fully fit.

Shortly after kick-off, Rodrygo was seen clutching his right quadriceps and appeared to be feeling some strain.

Although he was briefly treated on the sidelines and tried to push through, the pain became unbearable, prompting him to signal for a substitution as he collapsed on the pitch in frustration.

Replaced by Brahim Diaz

In his place, Brahim Diaz, who had been warming up on the sidelines, quickly prepared for action. The disappointment was evident on Rodrygo’s face as he left the field, clearly frustrated at the timing of another injury.

He was immediately treated on the bench and iced on the injured area, highlighting the seriousness of his situation.

This injury comes at a crucial time for Real Madrid as the team had high hopes for Rodrygo’s contribution, particularly in building their attack in the second half.

Real Madrid’s substitution strategy was also influenced by this early exit. With Rodrygo’s early withdrawal, they had already used one of their valuable substitution windows, which disrupted their planned formation and tactical approach.

Later in the game, Eder Militao also suffered an injury that required him to be stretchered, forcing Real Madrid to once again rely on their reserve reserves.