It's just one thing after another for Xabi Alonso. Following his recent groin injury and fractured foot, at Mestalla he received a hard blow which perforated his left eardrum, according to a Real Madrid medical report.

An elbow by Mathieu in the 58th minute floored the Real midfielder. Xabi grabbed his ear and had to be looked at by the club's medical staff on the pitch. After a few minutes on the sidelines, he came back on and played a further 32 minutes with a perforated eardrum.

At the final whistle, and given that the pain didn't subside, the Real Madrid doctors recommended that he remain in Valencia and undergo a check-up at the 9 de Octubre Hospital. They also didn’t want him to fly, in case the atmospheric pressure aggravated the injury. After confirming his condition, he was discharged and the midfielder returned to Madrid by road.

How long Xabi with be sidelined will depend on how he progresses during the first 48 hours after the blow, because the symptoms can take a little time to appear.

"If it is only discomfort and a strange hearing sensation, he could return to playing football immediately. However, if he experiences any dizziness or vertigo, he could be out for two to three weeks. He could possibly have damaged a small bone or nerve, which would be visible in a hearing test or X-ray. If that were the case, his recovery would be more complicated," said Doctor Nicolás Meana from Cruces Hospital in Barakaldo (Spain).