Real Madrid will be without both of their CBs when they face Liverpool later today
Real Madrid has confirmed that Raphael Varane is tested positive for COVID-19 and he will be missing the biggest clash of tonight for the Real Madrid side against Liverpool.
BREAKING: Real Madrid confirm Raphael Varane has tested positive for COVID-19.
It means he will miss today’s #UCL game against Liverpool pic.twitter.com/JqmnF5j51Z
— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 6, 2021
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Raphael Varane will miss Real Madrid’s clash with Liverpool on Tuesday night after testing positive for COVID-19.
Real will take on Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday night.
The 27-year-old would have expected to have been involved at the game in Madrid but posted a positive test in the morning.
What have Real Madrid said?
A statement said: “Real Madrid CF informs that our player Raphael Varane has given a positive result in the COVID-19 test that has been carried out this morning.”
Real Madrid now will be without both Ramos and Varane and it will be a huge setback for a side like Real Madrid without their man defending stars who make the backline compact and undestructive by strikers fate.
Varane and Ramos have 210 Champions League games and 8 titles between them.
Real Madrid will be without both of their CBs when they face Liverpool later today. pic.twitter.com/raoairZFpX
— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 6, 2021
How much of a blow is this to Real?
They are both vastly experienced defenders and to be without them both against a side as offensively capable as Liverpool presents a major opportunity for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Varane will also miss Saturday’s El Clasico, an enormous match given the title aspirations of Real and Barcelona and the fact they are separated by just two points in La Liga with nine games to play.
Who could replace him?
Zidane has only selected two other center-backs in his now 20-man squad for the match — Eder Militao and Nacho.
The versatile Nacho was expected to line up alongside Varane in Real’s defense but it is likely he will now partner Militao, who has not hit the heights expected of him since joining from Porto in 2019.