MADRID, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Tuesday night was arguably the most painful defeat Real Madrid have ever suffered in Europe, as Ajax's 4-1 triumph in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium saw Los Blancos crash out of the Champions League and leave them without the chance of lifting any silverware this season, even though it is still just early March.
However, to make matters even worse, coach Santiago Solari had to watch as three key players suffered injuries.
Solari was forced into making two changes before half-time in Tuesday defeat, as first Lucas Vazquez and then Vinicius Jr were forced out of the game.
Vazquez left the pitch after suffering a hamstring tear in the 28th minute. He was replaced by Gareth Bale, who was booed by a section of Real Madrid fans as he entered the field.
Vazquez is likely to be out of action for Madrid's next two league games, away at Real Valladolid and at home to Celta Vigo, and it remains to be seen if he will be able to face Huesca following the international break.
Vinicius told reporters after the game that the club doctors had told him his injury was "not serious" but he too was unable to continue after a powerful run and shot into the side netting just before half-time, and left the pitch in tears after suffering an apparent foot injury.
The teenager has been Madrid's best player over the past two months and had earned a call-up to the senior Brazil squad, but the results of tests will determine whether or not he can make his international debut.
Finally, Bale ended the game in discomfort after he twisted his ankle landing awkwardly in the closing moments of the match.
He remained on the pitch until the final whistle a few minutes later, but was hardly able to move and given his long history of injuries, he too looks likely to be out of action at least until the international break.
