Real Madrid face wait to discover whether Fede Valverde will be fit for Barcelona clash

Real Madrid are awaiting further tests to determine the extent of Fede Valverde’s left ankle injury and whether the Uruguay midfielder can return in time for the upcoming El Clasico.

The club said Valverde suffered a severe contusion to his left ankle during Sunday’s 2-1 derby defeat by Atletico Madrid. The injury occurred in the first half following a challenge from Kang-in Lee.

Real Madrid’s medical report confirmed that Valverde will undergo additional examinations “in the coming hours”. The tests are intended to establish the full extent of the problem and provide a clearer indication of his recovery period.

The club have not given a return date, while reports in Spain say Valverde is certain to miss Uruguay’s next international call-up.

Real Madrid have 20 days without competitive action before their next fixture, when they host Villarreal at Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday 10 October in the eighth round of La Liga.

An unconfirmed estimate of two to three weeks on the sidelines would leave Valverde with a chance of featuring against Villarreal, although his physical condition would be a major concern if he does return by then. The further examinations will show whether the injury is more serious and allow the club to assess his recovery more accurately.

The schedule becomes considerably more demanding after the Villarreal match. Real Madrid travel to Rome to face Roma in the Champions League on Wednesday 14 October, before hosting Sevilla at Santiago Bernabeu four days later.

Their next fixture after that is one of the most significant matches of the early season, with Barcelona visiting for El Clasico on 25 October.

Valverde’s availability for any of those games will depend on how his ankle responds and the results of the upcoming tests. He could potentially return for one of the fixtures, but it is too early to identify which one.

The next few hours are expected to clarify whether the midfielder can recover in time to face Villarreal or will need to wait several more days before returning to action.

Real Madrid issued their medical update on 20 September 2026 after the derby defeat, but did not specify how long Valverde would be out.