Real Madrid returned from Manchester basking in the glory of their Champions League semi-final qualification, but a cloud of injury concerns loomed over their upcoming La Liga clash against FC Barcelona this Sunday.

The player causing the most anxiety is Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian winger was forced off in the 101st minute of extra time during the Manchester City match due to muscle discomfort. He was visibly struggling to walk after losing a sprint to Kyle Walker, prompting an urgent substitution with Lucas Vázquez.

While initial assessments suggest no serious injury, the proximity of the clásico casts doubt over his availability. The forward will undergo medical tests on Thursday to determine the extent of the damage.

Real Madrid fervently hopes that the player’s issue is merely muscle fatigue or a slight overload. A minor setback, but potentially enough to sideline him for the Barça encounter.

A grueling schedule looms

Madrid faces a demanding schedule with seven matches crammed into 38 days, necessitating careful management of their players’ workloads. Their eight-point lead in La Liga provides some leeway for rotation, but a victory in the clásico could effectively seal the league title, allowing them to shift their full focus to the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich, with the first leg on April 30th and the return leg on May 8th.

Vinicius, moreover, holds a particular menace for FC Barcelona. Xavi has even gone to the extent of reshuffling his defense, deploying Ronald Araujo as a fullback to man-mark the Brazilian.

The Real Madrid forward has faced Barça in 16 matches, directly contributing to nine goals with six strikes and three assists. Barcelona is his second-most prolifically scored against opponent, only trailing Valencia, against whom he has netted eight goals.

Therefore, Vinicius’s participation or absence in the clásico looms large over the outcome of the match and the title race.