Raphael Varane is one of the top defenders in the world. (imago Images)
Speaking to reporters (h/t football.london) after Real Madrid beat Osasuna, Zinedine Zidane said that he spoke to Raphael Varane about an injury sustained in the game that forced a half-time substitution, ahead of their tie against Chelsea next week.
Things were already looking bleak for Madrid at half-time on Saturday when they went to dressing room with the score tied at 0-0. But their problems were compounded by the fact that Zidane had to sub off Varane due to an injury.
Nacho replaced the Frenchman at the start of the second half. Los Blancos scored two late goals, courtesy of Casemiro and Eder Militao, to seal a 2-0 victory and put the pressure on Atletico Madrid and Barcelona in the title race.
But it looks like Madrid will have Varane back for the second leg. The Madrid manager stated that he had talked to Varane and the defender does not think that the injury was serious.
“We hope Rafa’s [Varane] injury isn’t too serious, but right now I can’t tell you anything. I spoke to him and he told me it wasn’t too serious and I hope that’s the way it is.”
Madrid will already be without a crucial part of their defence against Chelsea in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final on Wednesday as Dani Carvajal is expected to sit out.
But as quoted by the Daily Mail (h/t football.london), Zidane has already confirmed that club captain, Sergio Ramos, has been training and will be fit in time to face the Blues.
“He [Ramos] is training with us and that means he’s able to play too. We’ll see what we do when we name the squad, but Sergio is fit and ready to play.”
The onus is on Madrid to score as Chelsea secured a crucial away goal in Spain last week. The tie is level at 1-1 going into the second leg at Stamford Bridge next week.
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