Gareth Bale, Eden Hazard, Eder Militao, the list goes on. Real Madrid have had tough luck with injuries, and it’s slowly getting worse for the season. If you thought that was all we had to face, then you might be wrong.
Real Madrid’s marquee signing David Alaba has had a good start to the season, being one of Real’s better players even during the rough patch that they’ve been in for a little while. But, according to reports from Spain, the Austrian is injured.
According to Onda Madrid and AS, David Alaba has picked up a knee injury during the international games. According to the former source, the Austrian is now, along with Eder Militao, a doubt for the Shakhtar game as well as El Clasico, while AS talks solely about the Shakhtar game.
However, a tweet from Sergio Quirante mentions that Alaba thinks he will be able to play against Shakhtar on Tuesday, and it was followed up by Mario Cortegana’s confirmation regarding the same.
Will David Alaba be able to feature for Real Madrid in El Clasico?
By the looks of it, with how everyone has confirmed that the injury was nothing more than a knock, yes, Alaba should feature for Real Madrid against Barcelona. However, if Ancelotti decides to not play Alaba against Shakhtar, Carlo Ancelotti will certainly miss his presence at the back, since he’s been vital in launching long balls into the attacking third.
But, hopefully, with the return of Toni Kroos to the lineup, Alaba’s potential absence wouldn’t have that big of an impact on this. But, it would definitely have an impact on some other things.
Being without both Militao and Alaba is something that Real Madrid haven’t tried this season, so if both of them miss the game against Shakhtar (although it is unlikely that they do), Real Madrid will have to test a new centre-back partnership. Would it be Nacho Fernandez and Jesus Vallejo, who hasn’t had the greatest time during his last couple of loan spells? Or, would it be Ferland Mendy, who had a fantastic couple of seasons for Real Madrid, but in a different position? Both of them haven’t played a single minute of football this season.
Alaba’s injury isn’t serious, by the looks of it, so one shouldn’t worry about him missing the Clasico. I can’t say the same for Shakhtar, but the reliable journalists basically confirm that he will be with the squad in Kyiv.
I am positive that Alaba should return in time for the two games, but if there is any kind of risk involved, I would prefer to have him on the bench for at least the game against Shakhtar.