Real Madrid defeated Villarreal 4-1 in their 17th match of La Liga at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday but the win came at a massive cost as defender David Alaba tore his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in the 35th minute.
Goals from Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Brahim Diaz, and Luka Modric helped the Whites cruise to a comfortable victory but they had to face injuries of two key players.
Alaba twisted his knee in the first half and left-back Ferland Mendy was also taken off at half-time due to muscular discomfort as he was replaced by Fran Garcia.
The 34-year-old will be out for eight months approximately, he is expected to miss EURO 2024 with Austria which is scheduled to be played in June 2024 in Germany.
“After the tests carried out on our player David Alaba, he has been diagnosed with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The player will undergo surgery in the coming days,” the club confirmed in a brief statement.
This was the third time a Real Madrid player suffered an ACL injury after key players Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao were ruled for eight months due to an ACL tear earlier this season.
Los Blancos are now left with only two natural center-backs in the squad, Antonio Rudiger and Nacho Fernandez, and the club understands that they need to sign a defender in the January transfer window.
The club is exploring names to target in January. While the management wants to sign a young CB who could serve them for years, they have not ruled out a loan signing of a veteran whose contract with his current club is about the end.
Head coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that defensive midfielder Aurilien Tchouameni, who returned after a two-month-long injury on Sunday, is the first option to assume the role in the middle after the center-backs.
“Tchouameni could play at CB,” Ancelotti said after the match. “Tchouameni is the 1st option after the centre-backs. In an emergency, and now it's an emergency. He can play there."
Real Madrid’s injury list and their expected return time
Arda Guler (training with team, return date not established)
Vinicius Junior and Dani Carvajal (training alone with the ball, return in January)
Ferland Mendy (extent of injury yet to be determined)
Eduardo Camavinga (January)
Eder Miltao (Late February/Early March)
Thibaut Courtois (April)
David Alaba (August)