Real Madrid suffer Marc Cucurella injury blow ahead of Inter Milan clash

Real Madrid faces a significant setback ahead of their Champions League opener against Inter Milan, with key player Marc Cucurella likely to miss the match due to injury. The incident occurred during Real Madrid's recent 0-1 defeat to Real Betis, where Cucurella had to be substituted in the closing stages due to cramps. Although he is expected to recover and return to action in time for the upcoming match against Rayo Vallecano, it appears unlikely that he will be fit for the encounter with Inter Milan on Tuesday.

This absence is a major blow to Jose Mourinho, whose first attempt at winning the European title ended without success during his previous tenure at the club. To ensure a favorable start in the league phase and avoid the stress of a play-off round, which Real Madrid has faced twice since the new competition format began, the team must secure a top-eight standing in the league.

With Cucurella set to miss out on the Inter Milan clash, Mourinho will likely rely on Carreras to fill the gap in defense. However, given the importance of the upcoming match and the necessity of minimizing risk for one of his crucial players, Carreras is anticipated to make his debut as a starter, having been absent from the previous fixtures against Malaga and Betis.