Real Madrid’s David Alaba is losing his place in the team

When it comes to playing for Real Madrid, your starting place is not based on iconic moments. That now famous moment of David Alaba raising the chair of a security guard like a man possessed as he celebrated the comeback against PSG - the unofficial image of Madrid’s 14th Champions League - seems like a distant memory. Ancelotti’s Madrid has regained its defensive standards from before and has done so during Alaba’s absence due to the injury he suffered against Liverpool.

In fact, Anfield was quite significant in understanding Alaba’s current situation at Madrid. Ancelotti had no qualms about moving him to the left-back in order to pair Militão and Rüdiger in the centre. Until his hamstring ruptured, the Egyptian had blown past him constantly like a tornado.

He left the field injured in the 27th minute and as if he were an aspirin, Nacho erased Salah’s frightening influence in an instant against a Madrid team that, to top it off, was already losing 2-0. A palpable improvement that surprised Klopp himself (“Today we saw why Nacho has been at Madrid for so many years”) leaving Alaba’s current contribution in question.

But where a door closes, another one opens. For Alaba, there is indeed another opening at Madrid: the left side of defence. Mendy is also injured and it is a position in which the Austrian could turn himself into the prime candidate and not just a substitute. With Nacho and Camavinga as alternative possibilities, the position appears well covered.

Alaba’s aim is to return after the break

While Rüdiger has overtaken him as Militão’s partner, Alaba still does not know exactly when he will be available. He still hasn’t worked out with the team: he is set to miss out on the clash against Espanyol and given the time needed to regain match fitness, things are looking quite difficult to return against Liverpool (Wednesday, 15 March, 2P.M. ET) or the Clásico on the 19th. Given his situation, his return would be a month after sustaining the hamstring injury at Anfield.