Real defender Pepe suffers broken ribs
Defender faces at least one month on sidelines
Real Madrid's Pepe reacts during the match against Atletico Madrid after getting injured on April 8, 2017. PHOTO: REUTERS
MADRID:
Real Madrid face a defensive crisis ahead of huge clashes against Bayern Munich and Barcelona after Pepe suffered a double rib fracture in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid.
Pepe opened the scoring with a towering header seven minutes into the second half but then had to be replaced after clashing with teammate Toni Kroos.
"He has been diagnosed with a fracture in the seventh and eighth left ribs," Madrid said in a statement.
The Portuguese defender is expected to be sidelined for up to a month.
Madrid are already set to miss central defender Raphael Varane for the rest of the month due to a hamstring injury.
The European champions face Bayern in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday.
Bayern then travel to the Spanish capital for the second leg on April 18 before Real host Barca in a potential La Liga title decider on April 23.
Real Madrid face a defensive crisis ahead of huge clashes against Bayern Munich and Barcelona after Pepe suffered a double rib fracture in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid.
Pepe opened the scoring with a towering header seven minutes into the second half but then had to be replaced after clashing with teammate Toni Kroos.
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"He has been diagnosed with a fracture in the seventh and eighth left ribs," Madrid said in a statement.
The Portuguese defender is expected to be sidelined for up to a month.
Madrid are already set to miss central defender Raphael Varane for the rest of the month due to a hamstring injury.
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The European champions face Bayern in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday.
Bayern then travel to the Spanish capital for the second leg on April 18 before Real host Barca in a potential La Liga title decider on April 23.