Madrid’s derby left Real Madrid with more than a 2-1 defeat at the Metropolitano. Federico Valverde, the Uruguayan midfielder whose running has become a familiar feature of the side’s European calendar, has been diagnosed with a grade-three sprain to his left ankle after further examinations.
The club initially described the problem as a severe trauma to the same ankle, sustained during the match, and said that additional tests would follow. Those examinations have now established the seriousness of the ligament injury, with Valverde’s recovery to be monitored over the coming weeks. He is expected to be unavailable for at least two months.
The injury came after a heavy challenge from Kang In, who caught Valverde around the ankle joint with a stamp. Real Madrid appealed for a red card in the moment, but none was shown. The projected absence would also rule Valverde out of Uruguay’s next international window, a setback for the national team under Diego Forlán’s new project.
Atlético had taken control of the derby from the penalty spot, with Alejandro Grimaldo converting after Dean Huijsen fouled Giuliano Simeone. Jonathan David added the second goal in the 59th minute. Antonio Rüdiger pulled one back late on, heading in from Bernardo Silva’s accurately delivered free-kick, but Real Madrid could not alter the result before leaving the stadium with a significant injury concern.
