David Alaba’s ACL Injury Spoils Real Madrid’s Win Over Villarreal

Spanish powerhouse Actual Madrid picked up a cushty 4-1 win over Villarreal in Gameweek 17 of the 2023-24 La Liga season on Sunday night time (December 18). The victory on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium allowed Los Blancos to reclaim the highest spot in La Liga rankings however their celebrations have been marred by David Alaba’s season-ending Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) damage.

Luka Modric Leads The Pack As Actual Madrid Ouclass Villarreal

Wanting to bounce again from their 1-1 draw with Actual Betis final weekend, Los Blancos took the assault to Villarreal early within the recreation. After testing the keeper a few instances, Madrid got here agonizingly near placing their noses in entrance within the twenty second minute.

The ageless Luka Modric picked up the ball outdoors the world and went for objective with a piledriver of a shot. The ball zipped over the Villarreal protection however didn’t dip in time, taking a deflection off the crossbar and crashing into the stands. 4 minutes later, the Croat showcased his creativity, discovering Jude Bellingham contained in the field with a first-time lob. The in-form Englishman expertly guided Modric’s supply past the goalkeeper and into the again of the web.

Within the thirty seventh minute, Rodrygo doubled Los Merengues’ tally, reacting sharply contained in the field amid a scramble and firing the ball residence from shut vary. Villarreal pulled one objective again by Jose Luis Morales within the 54th minute, however a second of brilliance from Brahim Diaz noticed Madrid restore their two-goal benefit simply 10 minutes later.

Simply inside Villarreal’s half, Diaz used his physique to defend the ball from a defender earlier than executing a swift flip to get away. Working down the mid-left channel, Diaz sensationally dummied a shot contained in the ‘D’ to evade a sort out earlier than firing the ball residence with a spectacular right-footed strike.

Having run the present till then, Modric obtained on the scoresheet within the 68th minute, discovering the again of the web with a robust strike after pouncing on a unfastened ball inside the world. The 38-year-old was the standout participant of the sport, with him creating 5 probabilities, finishing 65 passes (93% accuracy), delivering seven correct lengthy balls, and making 5 recoveries.

David Alaba Turns into The third Madrid Participant To Endure ACL Tear This Season

After dropping Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao to ACL tears earlier this season, Actual Madrid yielded one other participant to the nightmare damage on Sunday. Alaba, one of many pillars of Carlo Ancelotti’s backline, went down clutching his left knee after twisting it within the thirty second minute. The participant needed to be helped off the pitch by a few members of Madrid’s medical group. Afterward Sunday, the membership introduced that the 31-year-old had torn the ACL in his left knee and can bear surgical procedure within the coming days.

With Alaba dominated out for the rest of the 2023-24 season, the Whites are left with solely two center-backs of their ranks. If both Antonio Rudiger or Nacho Fernandez picks up an damage, Madrid’s La Liga and Champions League cost may take an enormous blow.