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By TARA ANSON-WALSH, WOMEN'S FOOTBALL REPORTER Published: 05: 47 AEST, 17 September 2025 | Updated: 06: 45 AEST, 17 September 2025 30 View comments Trent Alexander-Arnold was forced off the pitch with an apparent hamstring injury just minutes into his Champions League debut for Real Madrid. The 26-year-old has had a difficult start to life with Los Blancos, and has been battling with Dani Carvajal for a place in Xabi Alonso's starting line-up. But after getting the nod from the Spaniard for Tuesday night's fixture against Marseille, Alexander-Arnold made it through just three minutes until he went down clutching his hamstring. Alexander-Arnold cut a frustrated figure on the grass as he was treated by medical staff and his teammates surrounded him. The right-back has had an turbulent time since arriving in the Spanish capital since his high-profile move in the summer from his boyhood club Liverpool, with Real paying the Reds a £10million fee to ensure he was available for the Club World Cup. Alexander-Arnold had an up and down tournament in the US as Xabi Alonso's side crashed out in the semi-finals to PSG, and Alonso has been rotating between playing him and the experienced Carvajal, 33. Trent Alexander-Arnold is forced off with an injury just minutes into the match against Marseille. Wishing him a speedy recovery ? ? @tntsports & @discoveryplus UK pic. twitter. com/Fi REo N59q V Trent Alexander-Arnold was forced off the pitch with an apparent hamstring injury just three minutes into his Champions League debut for Real Madrid The 26-year-old has had a difficult start to life with Los Blancos since joining from Liverpool this season, and has been battling with Dani Carvajal for a place in Xavi Alonso's starting XI The Englishman was dropped again for Madrid's La Liga fixture with Real Sociedad on the weekend. Asked about the battle between Alexander-Arnold and Carvajal to become the defacto No 1, Alonso explained that it is far from straightforward for either player to do so. 'Fortunately, we have healthy competition within the team, and they're challenged internally because there are team-mates who are ready, ' Alonso said in the past week. 'It also happens in other positions, like centre back or winger. Whoever deserves it will play; it's going to be very repetitive all year. ' Carvajal came on for Trent but added to their right-back woes when he was sent off for violent conduct after 72 minutes. Alexander-Arnold proves a more attacking option but with so much firepower already in attacking areas, Alonso and Real Madrid are going with a defensive-first approach at the back. Carvajal was shown a straight red card for appearing to headbutt Marseille keeper Rulli It presents a delicate balancing act for Alonso as to when to best utilise Alexander-Arnold and when to go with Carvajal. Not that they are having any issues when it comes to results so far, with that extending to Saturday's 2-1 win in San Sebastian, leaving Madrid at the top of La Liga after four games.
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