Trent Alexander-Arnold's Champions League debut for Real Madrid lasted just five minutes having been forced to go off injured.
The England international was handed a start by Xabi Alonso for Los Blancos' opening league phase match at the Bernabeu on Tuesday night.
MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 16: Trent Alexander-Arnold of Real Madrid reacts after picking up an injury during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and Olympique de Marseille at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 16, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images)
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Alexander-Arnold couldn't believe he had picked up an injuryCredit: Getty
But the right-back immediately appeared to pull a hamstring and had to be taken off.
Dani Carvajal was brought on for the former Liverpool defender, who limped down the tunnel.
It was a heartbreaking moment for the defender, who now faces a spell on the sidelines.
There are some huge fixtures coming up for Real Madrid, including a possible Anfield return for Alexander-Arnold, but as of now, that could be be in doubt.
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Discussing his knock on talkSPORT commentary, broadcaster Adrian Durham said: "Well, Trent was looking up to the heavens.
"He was just on the ball, nobody near him and he pulled up and booted the ball away and then was on the ground.
"He was looking up to the heavens, he couldn't believe it.
"He's got himself a start, a chance to prove himself and within a few minutes he's off the pitch, injured.
"And it did look like a hamstring injury."
In the game, Los Blancos were trailing at the Bernabeu as well.
Timothy Weah put the French giants into the lead following a Mason Greenwood assist.
The lead didn't last long as Geoffrey Kondogbia fouled Rodrygo in the box.
Kylian Mbappe stepped up and slammed the penalty home to restore parity.
Real Madrid's French forward #10 Kylian Mbappe scores his team's first goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions League first round day 1 football match between Real Madrid CF and Olympique de Marseille at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on September 16, 2025. (Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP) (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP via Getty Images)
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Mbappe stepped up and converted from the spot after Alexander-Arnold limped offCredit: Getty
From bad to worse
Since his move to Real Madrid from Liverpool, things haven't been totally smooth for Alexander-Arnold.
The 26-year-old made his Real Madrid debut during the Club World Cup.
Los Blancos largely had a tournament to forget, crashing out to Paris Saint-Germain after a brutal 4-0 loss, in which he played no part due to injury.
He has made four LaLiga appearances since then, starting two and coming on as a substitute in two more.
However, in the two matches he started, he didn't complete 90 minutes.
Real Madrid have won all of their LaLiga games, but there has been some criticism of Alexander-Arnold.
It has been a slow start to life in Spain for Alexander-Arnold
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It has been a slow start to life in Spain for Alexander-ArnoldCredit: Getty
After his debut against Osasuna, the editor of leading Spanish sport outlet AS, Thomas Roncero said: “He’s a player who, at the moment, isn’t up to the level ofReal Madrid,”
“I know what Real Madrid fans like, and he’s a player who runs, who fights, who doesn’t feel cold, who wins the byline and can put it in… That’s not Trent at the moment.
“Has he been signed to be a full-back who plays in the middle? I doubt it. Has he been signed to be a full-back who plays short and takes corners? I also doubt it.
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“He’s a kid who’s been very important at Liverpool and has to adapt to Real Madrid.”
Now, the near future at the very least looks bleak for Alexander-Arnold, with the player likely to miss at least a few games with this suspected hamstring injury.