Comeback imminent

David Alaba fully on schedule: Duel with Salzburg beckons

Without David Alaba, Real Madrid will be aiming to take the lead in the Spanish championship with a win at penultimate-placed Valencia this evening (9pm/live in the sportkrone.at ticker). However, the Austrian team captain's return is becoming more and more concrete, with the 32-year-old set to return for the Champions League winners in just over two weeks' time.

"He will start taking part in matches in training next week and could be back in action around January 20," Real coach Carlo Ancelotti explained in a press conference on Thursday. If all goes well, Alaba could make his comeback after a 13-month injury layoff in the LaLiga home game against Las Palmas on January 19 or three days later against Red Bull Salzburg. Salzburg will play in the Champions League at the Bernabeu Stadium on January 22.

Ancelotti is looking forward to Alaba's comeback soon
Ancelotti is eagerly awaiting the return of his defensive boss. "The squad is almost complete and there will be more rotations, especially in defense, as soon as Alaba returns. That's the position where we've suffered the most. That will help us," explained the Italian.

Alaba tore the cruciate ligament in his left knee on December 17, 2023 and has not played a game since. The Viennese started running training at the end of September and has been back on the ball since mid-November.