Key Takeaways:
- David Alaba has been ruled out of Sunday’s El Clasico against Barcelona following a confirmed right calf strain
- The defender was substituted at half-time during Real Madrid’s victory over Getafe, marking his first La Liga start this season
- Alaba is expected to miss at least a week, including the Champions League fixture with Juventus on Wednesday
Alaba’s Injury Deepens Real Madrid’s Defensive Woes
Real Madrid have suffered another blow to their already depleted back line with confirmation that David Alaba will miss at least a week of action owing to a significant strain in his right calf. The 33-year-old was withdrawn at the interval during Sunday’s triumph over Getafe – his first La Liga start this campaign – as a precautionary measure. Medical tests on Monday revealed the extent of the injury, ruling him out of upcoming crucial fixtures.
🚨 JUST IN: David Alaba is INJURED.
He will miss El Clasico. @MarioCortegana @TheAthleticFC pic.twitter.com/lDLVRKztC4
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) October 21, 2025
Absences Mount Ahead of Barcelona Clash
Alaba’s unavailability compounds existing concerns in the Madrid rearguard prior to their high-stakes encounter with Barcelona. Dean Huijsen was absent against Getafe after pulling out of the Spain national team with a calf issue, and Antonio Rüdiger has remained sidelined since September because of a muscle injury in his left leg.
Further complicating selection matters, club captain Daniel Carvajal has missed the last two fixtures due to a calf complaint, while Trent Alexander-Arnold has not featured since September following a hamstring problem.
Injury Record and Player Comebacks
This season, David Alaba has participated in four matches across all competitions, having previously been absent from the Club World Cup with a left calf strain. The Austrian was also unavailable during the closing weeks of the 2024-25 campaign due to a meniscus injury in his left knee, only making his return in January after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament tear sustained in December 2023.
In Alaba’s absence for the second half against Getafe, Raúl Asensio partnered Éder Militão in the central defensive positions.
| Player | Injury | Estimated Return | Last Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Alaba | Strained right calf | At least a week | Getafe (substituted at half-time) |
| Dean Huijsen | Calf injury | Unknown | Spain squad withdrawal |
| Antonio Rüdiger | Left leg muscle injury | Unknown (sidelined since September) | September |
| Daniel Carvajal | Calf problem | Unknown | Two matches missed |
| Trent Alexander-Arnold | Hamstring injury | Unknown | September |
