Real Madrid have been handed a major injury blow ahead of their Champions League clash with Manchester City.
The Spanish giants could be without veteran midfielder Luka Modric, who sustained a thigh injury during his club’s shock 4-2 defeat to Girona on Tuesday.
The iconic playmaker could miss out when Real Madrid meet Osasuna in the Copa del Rey final on 6 May.
“Following tests carried out on Luka Modric by the Real Madrid Medical Services, an injury to the back of his left thigh has been diagnosed,” an official statement from the club read. “His progress will be monitored.”
Real Madrid icon could miss Man City clash
More worryingly for Real Madrid, however, Modric could still be sidelined for the Champions League semi-final first leg meeting with Man City on 9 May.
The two clubs go head to head at Santiago Bernabeu before the return fixture in Manchester, which is scheduled for 17 May at the Etihad.
Real Madrid have league matches against Almeria and Real Sociedad on 29 April and 2 May respectively before the two big cup matches, with manager Carlo Ancelotti revealing just how much they will miss Modric over the coming weeks.
“He got an injury in the game against Girona,” said Ancelotti, as quoted by LiveScore. “We will see how he progresses in the next few days.
“He will be doubtful for the Copa final. We must evaluate him, we are hurt, but it can happen. I hope he recovers for the important matches.
“We have very important midfielders like Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni. We have many resources. But to replace Luka… you cannot replace his experience in these kinds of games.”
Real Madrid well behind Barca
Modric will be a huge miss in the midfield of Real Madrid, even with the long list of talented players that could come in to replace him.
The injury has furthered the misery around the Spanish club, who are enduring a difficult domestic campaign.
They won La Liga last season with a huge 13-point gap between them and rivals Barcelona, while they also beat Liverpool to lift yet another Champions League trophy.
This time, however, the tables have turned in La Liga, with Real Madrid winning just four of their last nine league matches.
They have drawn two times and lost three times in that run, allowing the old enemy Barcelona to go 11 points clear at the top.
Asked why the club have failed to follow up on their success from last season, Ancelotti replied: “I don’t know, it’s a matter of concentration, it’s normal, not always being able to be at the top.
“The schedule is very demanding and I see many coaches complaining about this. We are human and it’s the truth, sometimes I can’t prepare all the games in the same way either.
“In some games you concentrate better, and in others it’s worse. It happens to everyone, good days and bad ones. You have to trust the players. I see the group in great shape. What happened last season was unforgettable and we want to repeat it.”
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