Austrian defender David Alaba has suffered another injury just days after making his return to the pitch following a year-long absence.
At a crucial stage of the season, Real Madrid’s defensive woes have deepened as Alaba has been sidelined again.
The club confirmed on Tuesday that the Austrian defender has sustained an abductor injury in his left leg. However, they did not specify a timeline for his recovery.
“Medical tests conducted by Real Madrid’s medical team have diagnosed an abductor injury in David Alaba’s left leg. His recovery will be monitored,” the club stated.
Alaba had only just returned from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that had kept him out for 13 months. He made his comeback on January 18 in Real Madrid’s 4-1 La Liga win over Las Palmas, coming off the bench. Since then, he featured as a substitute in three more games, although coach Carlo Ancelotti did not field him in the recent match against Espanyol.
Now, he is back on the sidelines, just as Madrid enters a critical two-week stretch.
Los Blancos are set to face Leganés in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals on Wednesday, followed by a high-stakes Madrid derby against Atlético in La Liga on Saturday. In the following 10 days, they will take on Manchester City in a two-legged Champions League last-16 tie, with a league match against Osasuna in between.
To make matters worse, Madrid was already dealing with another major concern. Defender Antonio Rüdiger is struggling with a hamstring injury, and reports from Spanish media suggest he could be out for an extended period.
Adding to their worries, Madrid’s recent form has been underwhelming. They suffered a 1-0 defeat to relegation-threatened Espanyol in their last league outing. However, they still sit atop the La Liga table with 49 points from 22 matches, holding a narrow one-point lead over second-placed Atlético Madrid.
