Real Madrid star Gareth Bale is likely to be out of action for a month after tests confirmed he has suffered a calf strain on his left leg.
The Wales international, who has been in fine form in a new central attacking position during the opening weeks of the new campaign, picked up the injury in the first half of his team’s comprehensive Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.
And worryingly for Los Blancos, Sergio Ramos also faces a spell on the sidelines after suffering a dislocated joint in his left shoulder during the same game, with scans showing more damage than had been initially feared.
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The Madrid captain reacted by looking on the positive side, tweeting a picture of himself giving the thumbs up with his arm in a sling and a brief message: “Always with a smile, whatever happens. Working hard to come back stronger.”
There is better news over fellow central defender Raphael Varane, who was withdrawn at half-time with a shin injury. The young France international has recovered well and should be available to partner Pepe in Saturday’s home meeting with Granada.
Considering the lightweight opposition, however, this weekend’s clash is the last of Madrid’s worries and their next game – at Athletic Bilbao next Wednesday – looks like a much sterner test.
At this stage Ramos is hoping to be fit for the trip to the San Mames, but that is an optimistic scenario and Los Blancos will be left to hope that Varane does not suffer another setback.
Another date looming large is a local derby at Atletico Madrid on Sunday 4 October, and Ramos will be desperate to be fit for that encounter after missing the corresponding fixture last year, which resulted in a crushing 4-0 loss for Los Blancos.
The injury to Bale is a particularly big blow considering the prior loss of James Rodriguez, who is expected to be out for at least another couple of weeks after suffering a thigh injury on international duty with Colombia earlier this month.
Without two of his Galactico forwards, boss Rafa Benitez will be temporarily unable to maintain the free-flowing 4-2-4 formation which had served the team so well in recent outings, delivering 15 goals in the last three games.
Although Jese Rodriguez could be selected to fill in for Bale and James, it is more likely that Croatian international midfielder Mateo Kovacic will be given his first big chance to shine since joining this summer from Inter Milan.
Kovacic replaced Bale on Wednesday night, and Benitez ended the game with a more rigid 4-4-2 formation.
