Real Madrid star David Alaba suffers fresh injury; out for 2-3 weeks

The full-back recently returned from an ACL injury.

Ahead of a pivotal stretch of games that includes the Madrid derby and a Champions League playoff matchup with Manchester City, Real Madrid have announced that centre-back David Alaba has sustained a thigh injury.

The centre-back, who played as a substitute in Madrid’s LaLiga matches against Las Palmas and Real Valladolid last month, had just fully recovered from a lengthy absence due to an ACL injury sustained in December 2023.

Following the announcement of fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger’s hamstring injury, which was sustained on Saturday, and Éder Militão’s long-term absence due to an ACL injury, coach Carlo Ancelotti’s only central defence alternatives are midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni and young player Raúl Asencio.

“Following tests carried out on our player David Alaba by Real Madrid’s medical services, he has been diagnosed with an adductor muscle injury in his left leg,” the club said in a brief statement.

Before meeting Atletico Madrid in Saturday’s LaLiga rivalry, Madrid will travel to Leganés on Wednesday for a Copa del Rey quarterfinal. After that, they visit Osasuna in LaLiga and then take on City for their first leg of the knockout phase playoffs on February 11 before City’s visit to the Bernabéu on February 19.

After Nacho Fernandez left last summer, the LaLiga and European champions entered the current campaign with just three senior, first-choice centre-backs: Rudiger, Militao, and Alaba.

Militao sustained an injury in November and is not anticipated to make a comeback for the current campaign, while Alaba has just been available for selection since last month.

While Asencio, 21, has played 10 LaLiga matches and four Champions League games, Ancelotti has frequently selected Tchouameni at centre-back when they are not available.

Another important defender who won’t be available until this summer is club captain and right-back Dani Carvajal, who reportedly has a major knee injury.

After Liverpool turned down an early bid for Trent Alexander-Arnold, Madrid decided not to sign a defender during the January transfer window.

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