Xabi injury hits Real
Tuesday, December 31, 2002
Article summary
Real Sociedad have lost influential midfield player Xabi Alonso for a month due to an ankle injury.
Article body
Friendly agony
Xabi is likely to miss the next four league games - including the visit to champions Valencia CF on 12 January - after turning on his ankle while playing for a Basque Country XI in a Christmas friendly match against Macedonia.
Ankle damage
Hospital tests revealed that as well as spraining the ankle, the 21-year-old also damaged a bone. He will sit out the home games against Málaga CF and RC Celta de Vigo and the away encounters at Club Atlético de Madrid and Valencia.
Real resurgence
Homegrown Xabi has been a key figure in Real's rise to the top of the Primera División this season under French coach Raynald Denoueix. The San Sebastian side took a seven-point lead into the winter break, and resume their campaign against Málaga on 5 January.