Real Madrid's German defender Christoph Metzelder will be out of action for three weeks, the club confirmed on its website on Tuesday.
Metzelder has damaged a tendon in his right knee and tests carried out by the club have confirmed that he will miss the next three weeks of the competition.
That means he has no chance of playing in Thursday's visit to Almeria as well as Sunday's home game against Valencia.
Metzelder joined club captain Raul Gonzalez in the treatment room. Raul hurt the meniscus ligament in his knee in Saturday's defeat to Barcelona and will also be out of action for around three weeks.
Meanwhile Kaka continues to undergo treatment for his long standing groin problem.
The good news for the club is that Rafael Van der Vaart was able to train after suffering a slight knock at the weekend.