Real Madrid managed a huge 2-1 win Wednesday over Sevilla in its 21st game of the season, thus securing a four-point advantage over second place Barcelona in the Spanish League standings.

But lost in the victory were two key players. Sergio Ramos, the team's top defender, suffered an injury early in the game, and James Rodriguez, the man behind the team's opening tally, broke a bone in his foot.

Ramos does not seem to be banged up too badly, but Rodriguez is likely to miss up to two months with surgery and leaves a gaping hole in Los Blancos' midfield.

How big is that hole?

With Luka Modric still nursing an injury, the team will now have to decide whether Sami Khedira or Asier Illarramendi get the spot left vacant by the Colombian. Both provide some defensive stability to the side, but lost is something key to the team.

Rodriguez was the team's top key passer with 2.5 per game, showcasing his playmaking ability and really creating for others around him. He is tied for third on the team in assists with seven (Isco also has seven) and is fourth on the team in shots on goal per game behind the offensive BBC (Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema). He also leads the team in crosses per game with 2.1, and it isn't even close (Toni Kroos averages 1.3 per game). He is also tied for first on the team with 0.3 throughballs per game, and he is one of the top offensive players on the team in interceptions per game and tackles per game.

And of course, who can forget the eight goals he has in Spain this season, good for fourth on the team behind Ronaldo, Bale and Benzema. Javier Hernandez's three goals are tied for fifth on the team in that category, emphasizing just how key Rodriguez is to putting the ball in the net when the front three are being shut down.

In essence, Rodriguez is a big loss for the top team in Spain.

Of course, this is Real Madrid and that means a number of stars sitting on the bench waiting for their chance to play. But none of the remaining players have the kind of skill level that Rodriguez possesses. Illarramendi is a defensive midfielder who can make solid passes from the back, but is never going to create the big assist. Isco is already playing in the midfield and could find himself further forward with Illarramendi in the fold. But even he has never produced the number of key passes per game that Rodriguez has. That said, this might be the opportunity he needs to bring his game to an even higher level.

Khedira could be brought on to provide stability, but his battle is likely with Illarramendi.

That leaves Jese Rodriguez and Lucas Silva. The former is an all-out offensive star in the making in the vein of Ronaldo or Bale while the latter is brand new, unproven and likely to only play as a substitute until he finds his rhythm.

There should be little difficulty finding the proper replacement, but there can be no doubt that Rodriguez's absence is painful for all involved. Especially when he was having a fairytale season.