Real Madrid go top of La Liga, but Alaba injures knee
Real Madrid defender David Alaba ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament on his left knee in his team's 4-1 win over Villarreal in La Liga, which put Real a point above Girona at the top of the Spanish league. Madrid said after the match that Alaba will need to undergo surgery in the next few days. The club did not immediately say how long he is expected to be sidelined. It was the latest serious knee injury for Madrid this season. The club is already without goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and defender Éder Militão because of cruciate ligament injuries that are expected to keep them out of action for a long period. Eduardo Camavinga and Arda Guler also sustained knee injuries. Alaba's left knee buckled while he tried to steal the ball from an opponent near midfield. He fell and immediately called for help while grabbing his knee, unable to put weight on his left leg as he was helped off the field. Madrid defender Ferland Mendy also had to be replaced at halftime with an apparent muscle injury. In Italy, Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram shot Inter Milan four points clear at the top of Serie A with a goal each in a 2-0 win at Lazio which continued their thrilling strike partnership. Inter's dynamic attacking duo made sure their team took full advantage of closest rivals Juventus only drawing at Genoa on Friday to put daylight between Simone Inzaghi's side and the rest of the chasing pack. The pair have scored 22 of Inter's 39 Serie A goals this term as they gun to beat local rivals AC Milan -- nine points back in third after beating Monza 3-0 -- to 20 league titles. In the Bundesliga, Harry Kane said Bayern Munich's 3-0 win over fourth-placed Stuttgart was the team's "best game of the year so far", after the reigning champions moved back within four points of leaders Bayer Leverkusen. Kane scored twice and now has 20 goals from just 14 league matches since joining Bayern in the summer from Tottenham. "It's probably our best game so far this year against a really tough side," Kane told reporters. "Obviously they're right behind us in the league, big game just before the winter break, and we were dominant through the whole game." Bayern came into the match missing several first-team players through injury or illness, including Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich, Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman and Noussair Mazraoui. (AP, AFP)