Real Madrid moved four points clear at the top of the La Liga after defeating Sevilla 2-1 at the Bernabeu, but it was not a happy victory for the side as their star winger James Rodriguez went off with a severe foot injury.
Real announced that the Colombia midfielder would undergo surgery on his broken metatarsal in the coming hours.
Carlo Ancelotti's side put themselves on course for a fourth successive league victory when James headed home the opener in the 12th minute of the game, and his replacement, Jese Rodriguez, swept in a second before the break to make it 2-0 for Real, the BBC reported.
The only consolation for Sevilla came when Iago Aspas scored a late goal to make it 2-1.
James is likely to miss Real's last-16 Champions League tie against Schalke on 18 February and 10 March.
Real have not dropped a point at home in the league since losing to Atletico Madrid in September, and the Madrid rivals meet again this weekend but Ancelotti's side would go into that game without James and Sergio Ramos, who also picked up an injury against Sevilla, although Cristiano Ronaldo would return after serving a two-match ban.