Isco screamed in pain due to a new fracture in the fibula of his left leg, which will keep him out for three months. Within minutes, social media crucified Malaga's player David Larrubia for his mistimed tackle in the Costa del Sol trophy. The league has not even started yet, and the teams' infirmaries are already at full capacity. Up to 30 players could miss the start of the championship.
Doctors are alarmed by a packed schedule that hinders necessary rest. Physical trainers lament the disappearance of traditional preseasons. "Now, players lack adaptation time, going almost directly from vacations to playing matches," coaches emphasize. This season, everything is tighter due to the upcoming World Cup next summer.
No team is without injuries or setbacks carried over from the previous season. Real Madrid will start without Jude Bellingham, who was operated on July 16 for a dislocated left shoulder and will not return until October. Endrick remains sidelined due to a recurrence of a hamstring tendon injury in his right leg suffered in May. There is no return date for Mendy. Eduardo Camavinga has sprained his right ankle, sidelining him for ten days and making him doubtful for the second matchday. Valverde was rested for the Tuesday match in Tirol and is uncertain for the following Tuesday.
At Barcelona, Ter Stegen could be absent for over four months after undergoing back surgery again. Lewandowski is experiencing discomfort in his left hamstring.
Atletico Madrid has last-minute recovered Pablo Barrios, who missed the friendly against Porto due to a muscle injury. José María Giménez is still recovering from issues that arose during the Club World Cup.
Athletic Bilbao is not spared from misfortunes. To date, the most severe fracture is suffered by Unai Egiluz, who was operated on August 6 for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, sustained in a friendly against Racing de Santander. Aitor Paredes injured his right rectus femoris on July 26 against PSV. Sancet damaged the medial collateral ligament of his right knee in a friendly against Arsenal, leaving him out for several months. Beñat Prados suffered a muscle injury in the match against Liverpool at Anfield. Unai Gómez has a muscle injury in his right rectus femoris.
Villarreal will be without Cape Verdean defender Logan Costa for the entire season due to a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee suffered in a friendly against Basel. French-Congolese player Willy Kambwala suffered a hamstring muscle tear in his left leg on July 31 against Genoa and could be out of action for four months, as reported by Efe.
Sevilla also faces scares. Joan Jordán was operated on July 14 for a herniated disc and will be out for nearly three months. Also injured are Ramón Martínez, Nianzou, Idumbo, Ejuke, and Badé.
At Osasuna, Abel Ruiz is recovering from a quadriceps injury suffered in the Copa Cataluña final. Iker Benito is hampered by an ankle injury.
At Rayo Vallecano, Ghanaian defender Abdul Mumin remains out of coach Íñigo Pérez's plans due to a knee ligament rupture suffered last season.