Real Madrid have confirmed that Raphael Varane has tested positive for coronavirus and will then miss his first league title in the Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool on Tuesday night.
Los Blancos are already without captain Sergio Ramos after the midfielder picked up a muscle injury during a como appearance from the bench in Spain’s 3-1 World Cup victory against Kosovo.
? Raphael Varane has got Covid-19 and will miss his game tonight against Liverpool. https://t.co/5xlLztccNL
– 90min (@ 90min_Football) April 6, 2021
And their defensive misery has now been added after the news Varane will also miss the home team at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano after getting the coronavirus.
The club released a brief statement via their official website on Tuesday morning confirming the news, although they ended up providing further information on the quarantine period he was to carry out.
“Real Madrid CF informs that our player Raphaël Varane has given a positive result in the COVID-19 test that was conducted this morning,” the statement said.
The Frenchman was an unused substitute in Real’s 2-0 La Liga victory over Eibar on Saturday afternoon, with Zinedine ZIdane clearly keen to ensure the midfielder would be fit for the Premier League champions’ visit.
The news will be a huge blow for Zidane, with Eder Militao and Nacho expected to fill the heart of the defense with Real’s regular first-match match.
Zinedine Zidane will be without Raphael Varane for the match with Liverpool | Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
It remains to be seen how long Varane will be forced to isolate himself for, but it seems increasingly likely that the Spanish champions will be without the Frenchman for this weekend’s decisive La Liga clash with rivals Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real are currently in third place in La Liga – two points behind Ronald Koeman’s side and another point behind city rivals Atletico Madrid – and this weekend’s clash could prove crucial as Zidane’s men seek their second Spanish crown in a row.
