Real Madrid’s medical room is becoming crowded once again just as the season enters its most defining stretch.

With the Madrid Derby against Atletico Madrid looming on March 22, reports from COPE suggest that midfield stars Jude Bellingham and Dani Ceballos face a race against time, with only a “remote chance” of featuring at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The duo joins a growing list of absentees that includes Dean Huijsen and Kylian Mbappe.

While Huijsen and Mbappe are expected to return in the coming days—potentially in time for the Champions League Round of 16—the outlook for Bellingham and Ceballos remains far more conservative.

The club is reportedly weighing a difficult decision: rush the pair back for the high-stakes clash with Los Rojiblancos or wait until after the March international break.

Given the intensity of the derby, the medical staff is leaning toward caution to avoid any risk of a long-term relapse.

Real Madrid Facing Selection Headache Before Crucial Derby

If Real Madrid opts for the safer route, fans may not see Bellingham or Ceballos back on the pitch until April.

This would allow both players the entirety of the international break (March 23–31) to reach full match fitness without the pressure of immediate competition.

Fortunately for manager Alvaro Arbeloa, the squad’s depth has proven resilient.

The current midfield quartet of Federico Valverde, Arda Guler, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Eduardo Camavinga has found a productive rhythm in recent weeks.

Arbeloa’s willingness to blood young talents like Jorge Cestero and Thiago Pitarch also provides the tactical flexibility needed to navigate these absences.

While the absence of Bellingham’s goal-scoring threat and Ceballos’s technical control will be felt in the derby, the priority at Valdebebas is clear: ensuring the squad is at 100% for the final sprint of the campaign.