, Sept. 13 -- Real Madrid have suffered a significant blow as veteran defender Antonio Rudiger sustained a major muscle injury.

The German international is expected to be out of action for up to three months.

Los Blancos are in San Sebastian to face Real Sociedad on Saturday, and manager Xabi Alonso received the bad news just a few hours before the match.

Spanish sports outlet Diario AS reported that in the final training session on Friday afternoon, Rudiger suffered a muscle injury which the club's physicians identified as affecting "the rectus femoris muscle of his left leg." Club sources indicated he will be sidelined for 10 to 12 weeks.

The club later confirmed the news with a brief official statement: "Following tests conducted o...