Real Madrid hit by third defensive injury this week as Alaba ruled out for season

Real Madrid have confirmed that David Alaba has suffered a tear in the internal meniscus of his left knee, ruling him out for the rest of the La Liga season.

The Austrian defender becomes the third Madrid player to be sidelined this week, following injuries to Ferland Mendy and Antonio Rudiger.

Alaba is expected to undergo surgery in the coming days and will not feature again before the Club World Cup in June.

His absence adds to a deepening defensive crisis as Madrid prepare for the final stretch of the season.

Alaba had only recently returned from a long-term anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in December 2023.

He started in both Champions League quarter-final ties against Arsenal and played the first half in the league win at Getafe on April 23 before being substituted.

It remains unclear when the latest injury occurred, but he was not in the squad for the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona, suggesting the setback happened in training.

The 32-year-old has made just seven league appearances this season due to repeated fitness setbacks.

His return in January had sparked hopes of greater stability at the back, but another knee injury has brought that to a halt.

Alaba joins an increasingly long list of unavailable defenders at Madrid.

Rudiger is also out for around six weeks following knee surgery, while Mendy has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a quadriceps injury.

Carlo Ancelotti is also without Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal, both sidelined with long-term issues.

Fran Garcia is now the only recognised left-back available, while the central defence options are severely limited.

Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni may be forced to deputise again at centre-back alongside Castilla prospect Raul Asencio or Jesus Vallejo.

Madrid are four points behind Barcelona with five La Liga games remaining, including a decisive Clasico away on May 11.

The defensive shortage comes at the worst possible time as they attempt to stay in the title race.

Alaba and Rudiger are both targeting a return for the Club World Cup, which begins for Madrid on June 18 against Al-Hilal.

Until then, Ancelotti must navigate the run-in with a patchwork back line.