Real Madrid are in turmoil. With tensions boiling over just days before El Clásico, the Spanish giants are facing what could be their second consecutive trophyless season—and things are about to get worse if Barcelona snatch the La Liga title from them this Sunday.

Training ground bust-ups, allegations of dressing room fights, and a player needing hospital treatment for a head wound: it’s never quiet at Real Madrid, but even by their standards, the club is in full-blown crisis mode.

The chaos erupted Thursday night following reports of a clash between midfielders Aurélien Tchouaméni and Federico Valverde. The club confirmed Valverde’s head injury and said disciplinary proceedings have been opened against both players. An emergency meeting with president Florentino Pérez was called at the training ground. Now, the football world waits to see what happens next.

It all started Wednesday at Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training base, where a heated dispute between Tchouaméni and Valverde reportedly spilled into the dressing room. The next day, Valverde allegedly approached Tchouaméni, accusing him of leaking the argument to the press. Tchouaméni denied it, but according to Spanish outlet AS, the two refused to shake hands. Tensions remained high, and during training, heavy challenges flew between them.

The report claims Valverde continued to press his accusation, and Tchouaméni then struck him, causing Valverde to fall and hit his head. He was taken to the hospital for stitches.

Valverde later took to Instagram to set the record straight. He confirmed a disagreement with a teammate but denied coming to blows. "I accidentally hit a table, causing a small cut on my forehead that required a routine visit to the hospital," he wrote. "At no point did my teammate hit me, nor did I hit him. I understand it may be easier for people to believe we got into a fistfight, but that did not happen." He added that "the fatigue of competition and frustration make everything seem bigger than it is."

For Real Madrid, this is more than just a headline. With El Clásico looming, the club needs unity—not stitches and emergency meetings. The question now is whether they can pull themselves together before Barcelona come to town.