Real Madrid lose Rudiger for two of the biggest games of the season

Two to three weeks without Antonio Rüdiger. The implications are significant. Initially, there was hope that the defender had only suffered a strain, but tests confirmed otherwise: a tear to his right hamstring.

Rüdiger to miss the Madrid derby and playoff against Man City

So, Rambo is headed to the infirmary. He won’t play in the derby. The situation could be catastrophic: he’s ruled out for the first leg of the Champions League playoff against City at the Etihad and it looks almost impossible that he will be fit for the return at the Bernabéu. Although within the club, they’re setting that game as a goal – perhaps an unrealistic one – for his return. He’s aiming for it too. But the injury is real. Ancelotti is left without any healthy first-team center-backs - just as we enter the most crucial part of the campaign...

It all happened in the 14th minute of last night’s game against Espanyol. He sprinted down the wing, jumped, and upon landing, felt a sharp pain. The kind of pain that tells you something serious has happened. He quickly went to the ground and called for medical assistance. His teammates, alarmed, urged for faster help. For Rüdiger to call for the medics, something had to be wrong. And it was. Damage to his right hamstring. Initially, it was thought to be a pulled muscle. However, an MRI scan this morning revealed a tear to muscle fibres.

Medical sources from Real Madrid indicate that Rüdiger will be out for approximately 17 days. This is the estimated recovery time for a tear of this magnitude. It means he will be ruled out for the Copa del Rey quarter final against Leganés, the Madrid derby against Atleti in LaLiga, the first leg playoff against City and the league trip to Osasuna.

The big question is whether Rüdiger will be back for the return leg against City. The match is scheduled for 19 February - 18 days after the injury, which is cutting it very close. While it’s possible, considering he would need to train beforehand, regain match fitness, and most importantly, ensure there’s no risk of a relapse, it’s looking very, very unlikely. The same sources told AS that the centre-back won’t play in the return leg. It would take a “miracle.” And that’s all we know for now.

Alaba rushed to return

The damage, beyond just the muscle injury, is significant. Ancelotti is left without any healthy first-team centre-backs. Vallejo is practically invisible, Militão and Rüdiger are injured, and Alaba is in the final stages of his recovery but still needs some practice to regain match fitness. However, due to the emergency, his return, could be pushed through ahead of time. He will have to go from 0 to 100 almost immediately. The plan was for him to start in Butarque, but not to play back-to-back in the derby to avoid overloading the area. And certainly not to play again at the Etihad. But now, that’s what it takes. It’s a big effort.

Unless Alaba tells medical staff that he feels too overloaded, he will start the next match. Otherwise, he will be in the lineup. The alternative would be a Tchouameni-Asencio pairing, which doesn’t convince Ancelotti. This situation highlights a disastrous sports planning: Real Madrid might have to play the most important league match and a crucial Champions League knockout round tie with a converted midfielder and a youth team player...

Despite the transfer market being open until February 3rd at 11:59 PM EST, signing new players is still ruled out. It’s more about surviving than thriving, just like Ancelotti. And so, it will be for the next two to three weeks.

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