How Real Madrid can cope with Dani Carvajal's absence

Dani Carvajal's season-ending ACL injury is yet another blow to a Real Madrid defense that is already thin and dealing with multiple other injuries. 

Carvajal is the third player sidelined for Real Madrid this season with an ACL injury, joining 17-year-old Joan Martinez and center-back David Alaba, who is still recovering from an injury suffered in December 2023.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti is faced with the prospect of having to use an improvised defense — that's something the Italian has done in the three previous seasons with Real Madrid with mixed results.

In Carvajal's absence, the natural fill-in on the right side is Lucas Vazquez, Carvajal's emergency backup at right back. That's not his natural position, but Vazquez gets the job done and will no doubt be Ancelotti's first choice when picking his lineup. 

However, if Vazquez doesn't get the job done, Ancelotti can get creative with his defensive structure, playing players out of position. He has done that previously with some success.

Ancelotti could put midfielder Federico Valverde at right back. Against Liverpool in 2021 under then-head coach Zinedine Zidane, Valverde played fantastically at right-back. However, the Uruguayan has not played in the backline since, but he remains an option should Ancelotti need it. 

Another option for Ancelotti is to use center back Eder Militao in place of Carvajal. Militao has played right back a few times in his career, mostly with Brazil's national team.