Real Madrid faces a setback as defender David Alaba confronts months on the sidelines following a severe knee injury sustained during their recent 4-1 triumph over Villarreal in La Liga.
The Austrian center-back was forced off the pitch in the initial half after an encounter with Villarreal’s Gerard Moreno, resulting in a diagnosis of a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, as confirmed by a statement from Madrid.
“In light of the tests conducted on our player David Alaba, he has been diagnosed with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee,” stated the club. “The player is scheduled for surgery in the imminent days.”
Alaba’s unfortunate injury compounds Real Madrid’s defensive woes, aligning with setbacks to goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, defender Eder Militao, and midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, all grappling with knee ligament issues.
With only two fit central defenders—Antonio Rudiger and Nacho Fernandez—available, coach Carlo Ancelotti might consider deploying midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, freshly recovered from injury, as a defensive solution.
Expressing his dismay at the spate of injuries, Ancelotti conveyed, “It’s a shame, it’s very sad, and I’ve never had three cruciate ligaments (problems) in four months. We have carried that and done more than what people thought.”
Real Madrid faces additional absences, with star forward Vinicius Junior sidelined due to a hamstring injury. Despite this setback, contributions from Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, and Brahim Diaz proved pivotal in filling the void left by the Brazilian, all three registering goals alongside Luka Modric in Madrid’s commanding victory over Villarreal.