The defense of Real Madrid faces a complex scenario heading into matchday 13 of LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26. Xabi Alonso's team will host Elche next Sunday, November 23rd (9:00 PM CEST) with the confirmed absence of Éder Militao.
On Wednesday, the club confirmed that the Brazilian suffered a muscular injury in the adductor magnus of his right leg during the friendly match between Brazil and Tunisia (1-1) played on Tuesday in France. The defender left in the 60th minute due to a twinge in the area and will ultimately be unavailable for the 'merengue' team's next match.
In that regard, Militao's absence adds to the doubts surrounding **Dean Huijsen** and **Antonio Rüdiger**. The Spanish center-back was **unavailable for the closing of the World Cup qualifier with Spain** due to muscle discomfort, meaning he might not be in the starting XI against the team from Écija.
How long will Militao be out for Real Madrid?
Rüdiger, for his part, has been out for three months due to a tear in the rectus femoris of his left leg and is just preparing to be medically cleared. In Éder Militao's case, initial assessments estimate a layoff of around two weeks.
Éder has been Xabi Alonso's most reliable center-back this season, accumulating 1,106 minutes of action in 14 of the team's 16 matches played. Now, the '3' will be absent for at least two league matchdays (against Elche and Girona) and one Champions League matchday (against Olympiacos)
Hopefully, the 27-year-old defender will be available for matchday 19, against Athletic (December 3), on the date brought forward due to the Spanish Super Cup dispute. Militao suffered two cruciate ligament tears in 2023 and 2024, so the club will take extreme care during his recovery.
Xabi Alonso would have to bet on an alternative defense against Elche
Thus, Xabi Alonso would have to rely on Raúl Asencio and David Alaba to face Elche next Sunday. The Spaniard does not have the trust of the Tolosarra, while the Austrian remains far from his best version due to the continuous muscular problems he has suffered in the last two years.
Alaba has not been a starter since his visit to Getafe on October 19, a match where he left injured at halftime. Asensio, for his part, has only entered the starting XI on 5 occasions this season, always taking advantage of a teammate's injury
Real Madrid could arrive second in the LaLiga standings for Sunday's match if FC Barcelona defeats Athletic on Saturday at Spotify Camp Nou (16:15 CEST). Currently, the difference between them is 3 points, but the Catalans have a better goal difference.