Carlo Ancelotti confirmed David Alaba could play in Real Madrid's clash with Las Palmas on Sunday, more than a year after sustaining a serious knee injury. (More Football News)
🌳The Austria international has been sidelined since December 2023 after suffering an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) rupture in his left knee during a La Liga game. The 32-year-old underwent more knee surgery in May 2024.
༺The centre-back has scored five goals and registered nine assists in 102 appearances for Madrid since joining in July 2021 from Bayern Munich.
ജ"[Alaba] is fine. He played 40 minutes yesterday, with a good feeling. Obviously he needs a bit of rhythm; the knee responds well," Ancelotti told reporters.
🀅"He won't start tomorrow, but he can get some minutes."
𒀰Alaba's return to the squad will be a boost for Madrid, with their backline already weakened by the absences of Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal, also due to ACL injuries.
♏While Alaba was included in the squad list, talisman Vinicius Junior was not due to suspension after receiving a red card in Madrid's 2-1 win at Valencia in their last league match.
🥃Defending league champions Madrid are second with 43 points but, despite their position, Ancelotti has faced criticism after the 5-2 humiliation by rivals Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana last week in Saudi Arabia.
🌸The defeat in Jeddah was followed by a laboured extra-time win over Celta Vigo on Thursday in their Copa del Rey round-of-16 clash, which led to boos from the fans at the Santiago Bernabeu.
🍨Ancelotti said he still had the club's full backing.
ꩲ"This team is alive and will fight until the end. I'm not hurt by being questioned; it's part of my job. I feel just as supported by the club as ever," the 65-year-old Italian coach said.
🥂"If you think you know everything — which isn't my case — you stop learning and lose your edge. I need to improve in many areas. There are times when we don't play well, and that's on me.
🐼"The match against Barcelona was my responsibility, and it's fair and justified for the fans to criticise me, but the fans haven't forgotten what we have achieved."
🎉Madrid drew their last meeting with Las Palmas 1-1 in August; only three times before have Los Blancos dropped points in both meetings with Las Palmas in La Liga, and not since 2016-17 (D2).
♔However, Madrid have not lost any of their 35 home games against Las Palmas in La Liga (W30 D5), a record number of home matches without defeat by any team against an opponents in the competition's history.
