The national derby was won, but the key player got injured; Carvajal underwent surgery on his right knee and will be out for 2-3 months.

During the 10th round of La Liga's national derby, Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1. The most dramatic and interesting event was not the game but the post-match conflict where Carvajal and Yamal initially shook hands, then hugged, but soon started a quarrel, followed by Yamal challenging Vinicius to a fight.

Real Madrid won the derby and leads by 5 points, but Carvajal faced an injury setback. The club confirmed that Carvajal has a loose body in his right knee joint and will undergo arthroscopic surgery. Spanish media outlets, including Cadena COPE and Marca, reported that the veteran defender will be sidelined for 2 to 3 months.

It is reported that the injured knee is the same one Carvajal seriously hurt and had surgery on during the match against Villarreal on October 9, 2024, meaning this is an old injury worsening. His last surgery was to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and posterolateral instability, causing a 9-month absence until he returned in the 2025 Club World Cup semifinals. Now 33 years old, Carvajal has been increasingly plagued by injuries and frequent physical issues. Earlier this season, he missed a month due to a soleus muscle problem. Carvajal hopes to recover quickly and get back on the pitch, with the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico as a key goal.