Calf Strain Sparks Madrid Dilemma as They Travel to Athens for Olympiakos Clash
26 November 2025
Injury scare ahead of Olympiakos clash
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, the rising English star, is dealing with a calf strain just hours before the trip to Athens to face Olympiakos in the Champions League.
Madrid travel to the Greek capital on Wednesday night for a matchday five fixture in the group stage.
Spanish outlet Marca reports there are doubts about his involvement, with the coaching staff awaiting a final assessment.
According to reports, Bellingham is coping with a calf muscle strain, and starts remain uncertain until closer to kickoff.
Coach Xabi Alonso is unlikely to gamble on him from the start, opting to decide in real time based on his condition and match circumstances.
Madrid enter the game amid a small slump, having gone three matches without a win across domestic and European competition this season.
Their last victory came in a 4-0 league win over Valencia earlier in November; since then, a 1-0 defeat at Anfield to Liverpool in the Champions League, a 0-0 draw with Rayo Vallecano, and a 2-2 stalemate with Elche followed the international break.
Athens has not been a happy hunting ground for Madrid historically, with seven official visits producing five draws and two defeats—no wins on Greek soil.
In matches specifically against Olympiakos in Athens, Madrid have played four times, with three draws and one defeat; their most recent meeting in the 2007-08 group stage ended 0-0.
In the current Champions League standings, Real Madrid sit ninth in the group on nine points, while Olympiakos are second from bottom with two points.
In La Liga, the club lead the table with 32 points, one ahead of second-placed Barcelona.
Xabi Alonso must balance attack and defense, as Olympiakos will seek to exploit any defensive gaps.
The Athens trip stands as a real test of the players’ spirit and tactical discipline, potentially deciding their European fate.
Meanwhile, Madrid’s matchday narrative includes a surprising development: Alonso publicly dismissed rumors about his future at the club, insisting Florentino Perez fully backs him.
AS reports the coach emphasized unity and a need to end speculation, underscoring who is steering the team’s direction.
The club’s hierarchy aimed to quell chatter, with the locker room already aware of the backing and the responsibility now placed on Alonso to calm the storm.
AS also noted an official and public warning had been issued to players, signaling the need to prove the club’s discipline and competitiveness on the field.
As the piece concludes, it recalls last year’s attempts by Carlo Ancelotti to turn things around, now presenting a new challenge for Alonso to lead the squad toward discipline and the results Madrid demands.
Punchline 1: If this plan fails, at least the press conference will have better lighting than some of their attacking moves—expect major mirrors and less mystery in the next episode.
Punchline 2: In football as in comedy, timing is everything: Alonso is betting the punchline lands when the ball finally finds the net, preferably before the critics finish their roast.
