Real Madrid dealt another injury blow after Liverpool Champions League clash

Real Madrid will be sweating over the fitness of David Alaba for the second-leg of their Champions League last 16 clash against Liverpool.

The Austrian defender was forced off inside half an hour during the first-leg and the scan results have come back to show he has suffered a hamstring injury, according to The Atheltic. Prior to his early exit, the Reds enjoyed success down the Madrid right as Mohamed Salah got beyond the 30-year-old.

However, his replacement Nacho Fernandez thwarted the Egyptian’s threat with Carlo Ancelotti’s side going on to romp to a 5-2 win over Jurgen Klopp. It remains to be seen whether he will be fit for the return leg in the Spanish capital as he faces a race against time to be in the starting line-up for the showdown when they meet on March 15.

That wasn’t the only injury concern for the Italian head coach as Rodrygo withdrew in the latter stages and will now be out for 10 days – missing the Madrid derby with Atletico Madrid on Saturday.

Aurelien Tchouameni, who missed the meeting at Anfield with flu, is back in team training ahead of this weekend’s clash with Diego Simeone’s side before they face league-leaders Barcelona in the Copa del Rey quarter-final.

Klopp’s side will have to dust themselves down ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Selhurst Park this weekend for their clash with Crystal Palace (Saturday, 7:45pm). When their attention returns to the Champions League, they will need to score three unanswered goals to take the game to extra-time.