Raul Asencio injury raises fresh uncertainty for Real Madrid after stretchered exit

Why this matters now: a stretchered removal in a tight Champions League playoff shifts short-term defensive planning and leaves several unknowns about recovery. Raul Asencio was taken off after a violent clash in the second half, and the club moved quickly to replace him while staff sent him for further checks. That sequence changes the squad picture for the immediate fixtures and raises questions about neck injury protocols and rotation.

Risk and immediate uncertainty around Raul Asencio's condition

Medical uncertainty is the dominant issue here: raul asencio was down for five minutes after a head blow and was placed on a stretcher before leaving the pitch. The manager later confirmed the player had been taken to hospital for evaluation and described the problem as likely related to the neck but not believed to be serious. Still, the club's decision to transport him off-site means the short-term availability picture is unresolved and will depend on hospital assessments.

What happened on the pitch (embedded detail)

In the second half of the Champions League playoff return leg, Real Madrid center back Raul Asencio collided with Eduardo Camavinga and remained on the turf for approximately five minutes. Medics put him on a stretcher and carried him off. He was substituted for David Alaba with a quarter of an hour remaining in the second leg against Benfica.

Sequence and related incidents during the match

• The clash that stopped play involving Raul Asencio came just moments after another center back, Antonio Rudiger, was tended to by medics following a separate collision with Alvaro Carreras.
• Minutes after Asencio's removal, Vinicius Jr. scored to make the match 2-1 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate.
• Real Madrid advanced into the Champions League Round of 16 after the 2-1 victory, securing a 3-1 aggregate success in the play-off round tie.

Manager reaction and squad context

Head coach Alvaro Arbeloa described the team’s early difficulties in the match and said performance improved after half time. He praised Aurelien Tchouameni for scoring what he called an important equaliser and highlighted Vinicius Junior’s influence, saying the attacker is needed as a leader now that one forward was unavailable. Arbeloa confirmed that Raul Asencio had been taken to hospital and said the injury "looks like something with the neck" and that it "doesn't seem serious, " adding hope it would turn out to be only a scare. He also explained that Kylian Mbappe dropped out of the squad at the last minute and could not play; Arbeloa said he could not draw a clear line between discomfort and injury and that stopping to recover was the right call, with a hope Mbappe would return within a few days or weeks.

Practical follow-ups and viewer-facing notes

Spanish television showed Asencio being taken off and then transported to hospital for further evaluation. There was live coverage emphasis on the sequence of medical interventions and the quick substitution that followed. Separate short editorial items around the match included a brief piece headlined "Verifying Device. " Additional material promoted the publisher's app for live coverage and referenced short social-video reels for highlights. Readers were prompted in the match feed to complete personal details to comment, and a live comments section stated that new comments would appear automatically and that email addresses would not be published; required fields were noted.

Here’s the part that matters for planning: the club progressed in the Champions League but must now manage immediate defensive fitness while hospital checks finish.

It’s easy to overlook, but two center backs required medical attention in close succession during the same match—an operational and selection stress test for the coaching staff.

Quick Q&A

Q: Is raul asencio expected to be out long?
A: Unclear in the provided context; the manager said the neck issue doesn't seem serious and that Asencio was taken to hospital for more evaluation.

Q: Did the team still progress in the tie?
A: Yes. Real Madrid won the match 2-1 and advanced 3-1 on aggregate into the Champions League Round of 16.

Q: What happened with Kylian Mbappe?
A: Mbappe dropped out of the squad at the last minute and could not play; the coach said stopping to recover was the best option and hoped for a return in a few days or weeks.

Next signals that will clarify the picture: hospital evaluations for Asencio and any formal medical bulletins on his neck; team updates on Mbappe's timeframe. The real question now is whether the club will alter defensive rotation in upcoming matches while awaiting those updates.