Real Madrid have not had the best of luck when it comes to injuries this season. Defenders David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger, and Dani Carvajal have all spent time on the sidelines. Further up the field, Aurelian Tchouameni and Franco Mastantuono have also both been injured.
Despite missing these players, Real Madrid is still top of La Liga. However, they did suffer a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League this week. The loss to the Reds means that Los Blancos are now seventh in European soccer's premier competition.
Xabi Alonso's back line has now been boosted by the return of an experienced center-back. Fabrizio Romano posted on the social media platform X: "David Alaba has returned to team training with the Real Madrid squad today ahead of upcoming games."
It remains to be seen if Alaba will play against Rayo Vallecano this Sunday. However, his presence will be a boost to Los Blancos. Following the fixture against Vallecano, there is an international break. We do not yet know if Alaba will be called up to Austria's roster by Ralf Rangnick. The defender is one of their best players, but is only just returning from a calf injury.
David Alaba's experience is still needed at Real Madrid
Before his calf injury, Alaba had played just three La Liga games for Real Madrid this season. He appeared as a substitute against Real Sociedad and then Levante. He finally got a start against Getafe but had to be taken off at halftime due to injury.
The only 90 minutes that Alaba has completed this season were in a 5-0 Champions League win against Kairat Almaty.
Éder Militão impressed against Liverpool despite being on the receiving end of the wrong scoreline. The Brazilian is in his prime at 27, but has also had his fair share of injuries in his career. Raúl Asencio is only 22, and the recent signing from Bournemouth, Dean Huijsen, is just 20.
Alaba will not be expected to play as many games as he once did, as he is now 33 and his fitness needs to be managed. However, his influence on the squad can be as a mentor to the club's younger center-backs, Asencio and Huijsoen.
The Austrian is in the final year of his Real Madrid contract, so he will want to make as big an impact as possible if he is to depart at the end of the campaign.