According to a report by Madrid Universal on Tuesday October 27, 2026, Captain Federico Valverde of Real Madrid was lucky to escape a major injury in their 2-1 win over Barcelona, according to preliminary medical exams. This is good news for the Spanish club.

Initial evaluations did not find any major damage, according to The Athletic journalist Guillermo Rai. Before the midfielder's availability and fitness for future matches can be determined, though, further tests are required.

In the first half of the hotly contested El Clasico, Valverde felt pain in his hamstring but kept playing. He eventually left the field in the second half.

The Uruguayan international, despite clearly suffering from a physical injury, fought valiantly for 40 minutes to ensure his team's crucial win over their archrivals.

After the game, manager Jose Mourinho complimented the midfielder's dedication, pointing out that he kept playing despite feeling a lot of pain in that pivotal match.

As for Valverde, he spoke about his health after the final whistle, saying he was in a lot of pain but hoping it wouldn't get worse.

I hoped I wasn't hurt, because my leg hurt a lot. "It was probably just a precaution," the Real Madrid captain clarified.

He went on to say that when Mourinho asked if he could play through the pain, he gladly agreed because he still cared most about helping the team win.

Adding, "The most important thing is to help the team win," Valverde reaffirmed his dedication to Real Madrid's triumph in the grueling derby match.

The captain's sacrifice was also recognized by Mourinho, who lauded his determination to play through the injury and help the team beat Barcelona.

Valverde, who played more than 40 minutes while injured, is another player whose name Mourinho felt compelled to mention.

Despite worries about an injury, Valverde wanted to keep playing, according to the Portuguese manager, so he could give his team his all.

While the preliminary results are promising, Real Madrid will have to wait for additional medical evaluations before they can confirm the midfielder's recovery schedule and whether or not he will play in their upcoming matches.

Mourinho would be greatly helped if Valverde were to be available; the captain is a leader, versatile, and influential figure in both the midfield and defense.