Real Madrid's defense is in panic without Rudiger!

Real Madrid's defense has suffered a major blow. German center back Antonio Rudiger has suffered a serious injury to his left leg muscle during training. Due to this, he will have to be out of the field for at least two and a half to three months.

Spanish dailies AS and Marca reported that Rudiger's injury is serious. Real's medical team's initial assumption is that he will not be able to return to the field before December. After scans, the club confirmed in a statement that he has been diagnosed with an injury to the rectus femoris muscle in his left leg.

The 32-year-old Rudiger also struggled with injuries last season, although he played 55 matches at the time. He was injured again after playing just one match in La Liga this season. Analysts see Rudiger's injury as the first major setback in the Real coaching chapter under Xabi Alonso.

The injury will not only rule him out of tonight's La Liga match against Real Sociedad, but also next week's Champions League match against Marseille. The veteran defender will also miss the Madrid derby on September 27 and El Clasico in October.

Despite having David Alaba, Raul Asensio, Militao and Dean Hausen in defence, Real believe that there is no substitute for Rudiger's experience and stability. As a result, coach Alonso will face great pressure in the team's defense.