The face of Real Madrid who entered the Champions League playoffs against Manchester City with a makeshift central defensive mating after David Alaba suffered another injury failure.
Austria’s international return from 13 months absence due to ACL rupture last month and Madrid chief Carlo Ancelotti hoped to facilitate it in order to be available for the two -tone tie with the city in the next fortnight.
But Alaba has now suffered a thigh problem that could keep him out for up to three weeks. Antonio Rudiger suffered an injury to Espanyol on Saturday – his schedule for recovery is the same as Alaba – while Eder Militao is out for the time.
It is a terrible timetable for Madrid, facing the weekend Derby with Atletico Madrid and the two games against the city with an improvised defensive coupling of the Aurelien Tchouameni and young Raul Asencio.
Alaba Medical Report.
– Real Madrid CF 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) 4 February 2025
“Following tests conducted by our player David Alaba by Real Madrid’s medical services, he has been diagnosed with injury to muscles on his left foot,” a statement from the club said.
Five critical games ahead
Alaba and Rudiger could lose the following games:
- Leganes (a) – Copa del Rey – Ferurure 5
- Atletico Madrid (H) – February
- Manchester City (A) – Champions League – February 11
- Osasuna (A) – La Liga – February
- Manchester City (H) – Champions League – February 19 (doubtful)
Tchouameni and Asencio to accelerate
Tchouameni had to complement the defense several times this season, while 21 -year -old Asencio has made only 14 appearances for Madrid, including four in the Champions League.
Madrid faces Leganes at Copa del Rey tomorrow night, but look to do it without Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr, both of whom lost training today and could rest for the tie at Estadio Municipal Butarque.
Anecelotti’s men are still La Liga’s leading ones despite Saturday’s 1-0 defeat in Espanyol, but now it’s just a point ahead of Atletico and four in front of Barcelona.
