Real Madrid will be sweating over the fitness of Vinicius Junior and Lucas Vazquez for the remainder of the domestic campaign ahead of a summer dominated by the Club World Cup, according to reports in Spain.
The duo both limped off in the closing stages of Madrid's chaotic 4-3 defeat to Barcelona on Sunday afternoon and have since had their injuries confirmed in official statements by the Spanish giants.
Vinicius has been diagnosed with a "sprain in his left ankle" while Vazquez picked up "an injury to the pectineus muscle in his left thigh".
MARCA were quick to report that Vinicius will be sidelined for Wednesday's potentially decisive league fixture away to Mallorca. If Madrid fail to earn a victory on the island, Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champions without even having to contest the Catalan derby against Espanyol on Thursday. The Spanish outlet claims that there is doubt as to whether Vinicius would be able to recover in time for Madrid's final league fixture at home to Real Sociedad on May 25.
If there are any concerns over Vinicius' fitness - and with no domestic titles left to play for - Madrid are expected to let their Brazilian forward recover fully before bounding into the Club World Cup in June. By that point, Xabi Alonso may very well have assumed the role of head coach following Carlo Ancelotti's appointment at Brazil.
There was a more optimistic timeline regarding Vazquez's recovery provided by AS. While the veteran full-back will also likely sit out the midweek trip to the Balearic Islands, he should be at "90%" for next weekend's league meeting with Sevilla.
It remains to be seen how involved Vazquez will be at this summer's Club World Cup. The five-time Champions League winner turns 34 on the same day he is set to become a free agent, 1 July. This date falls in the middle of the expanded tournament, although Madrid have the option of agreeing a mini-extension with Vazquez - and any other player on an expiring contract - to cover the whole competition.
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