MADRID, Spain — After suffering a disappointing loss in the Copa del Rey final, Real Madrid are facing further setbacks as Ferland Mendy has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to injury.

Following the Copa del Rey defeat to Barcelona, Carlo Ancelotti’s side is now fighting for La Liga glory, though their hopes are slim. With only five matches remaining and trailing Barcelona by four points, Real Madrid’s chances of retaining their 2023-24 La Liga title are dwindling.

To make matters worse, Antonio Rudiger has also been sidelined for the rest of the season, receiving a six-match ban for his aggressive outburst during the Copa del Rey final. Now, Real Madrid faces another injury blow with Ferland Mendy set to miss significant time after pulling up in the first half of the match against Barcelona.

The French defender has been diagnosed with a rupture of the proximal tendon of the anterior rectus in his right quadriceps, confirming that he will be out for the next 10-12 weeks. This injury rules him out for the rest of the season and the upcoming Club World Cup in the United States, which is set to take place this summer.

Carlo Ancelotti had taken a gamble by starting Mendy in the Copa del Rey final despite the player having only recently returned to training. Unfortunately, that decision did not pay off, as Mendy was forced off early with the injury.

This is the fourth injury for Ferland Mendy since August, marking another setback in what has been a challenging season for the left-back. Real Madrid will now rely on Fran García and David Alaba as their left-back options in the final stretch of the season, which includes an upcoming El Clasico showdown against Barcelona.