Real Madrid Rejoice, Alaba Devastated: ACL Tear Puts Euro Dreams on Hold

• Real Madrid wins 4-1 vs. Villarreal.
• Alaba has been out for 8 months.
• 3rd ACL injury this season for Real.

In their 17th La Liga game at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, Real Madrid defeated Villarreal 4-1, but the victory came at a heavy price as defender David Alaba tore his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in the 35th minute.

The Whites cruised to a comfortable victory because to goals from Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Brahim Diaz, and Luka Modric, although they were forced to deal with the injuries of two important players.

Alaba injured his knee in the first half, and left-back Ferland Mendy was replaced by Fran Garcia at halftime after being substituted for muscular soreness.

The 34-year-old will likely miss EURO 2024 with Austria, which is set to take place in June 2024 in Germany, due to his anticipated eight-month absence.

🚨 David Alaba is also likely to miss the EURO. @TheAthleticFC pic.twitter.com/yTBLM4HFzw

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— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) December 17, 2023

“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 ACL injury sustained by a Real Madrid player, following the eight-month absence of important players Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao earlier in the season owing to ACL tears.

With Antonio Rudiger and Nacho Fernandez as their only natural center backs, Los Blancos realizes they will need to add a defender during the January transfer window.

The team is looking into potential January targets. The management has not ruled out loaning out a veteran whose contract with his current club is about to expire, even if they would like to sign a young CB who could play for them for years.

After the center-backs, defensive midfielder Aurilien Tchouameni, who made his comeback on Sunday, is the first choice to take up the job in the middle, according to head coach Carlo Ancelotti.

“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.”

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