What is unfolding at Real Madrid is starting to feel uncomfortably familiar.
Season after season, the club’s defensive unit suffers a breakdown just as the calendar tightens and the pressure rises, as injuries at the back are no longer an occasional setback.
They are becoming a recurring obstacle that forces the team to improvise at the worst possible time.
The issue has resurfaced ahead of a crucial La Liga fixture against Villarreal, with the situation reaching worrying levels only days before kick-off.
The club has confirmed that Trent Alexander-Arnold, Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger will all miss the match, while Raul Asencio remains a doubt.
That combination of absences leaves the coaching staff stretched thin, with Dean Huijsen currently the only fully fit natural centre-back available.
David Alaba, although listed, continues to be a major uncertainty due to ongoing fitness concerns.
The situation becomes even more complicated when midfield cover is removed from the equation.
Aurelien Tchouameni, often relied upon as an emergency defensive option, will not travel after receiving his fifth yellow card in the previous league match.
His suspension eliminates one of Real Madrid’s most trusted solutions in moments of crisis.
As a result, according to Mundo Deportivo, Alvaro Arbeloa is now weighing difficult choices, including calling up Joan Martinez from the youth ranks.
Or else, the other option is to revisit the tactical experiment seen in earlier stages of the season, such as using Alvaro C arreras in a central defensive role.
There is still room for recovery, and the schedule does allow some breathing space. However, internally, there is a growing awareness that constant defensive disruption could stop this squad from reaching its true level.
In a season already full of twists, expectations and pressure, solving this recurring defensive issue may prove just as important as any tactical decision on the pitch.