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WHAT HAPPENED?
European champions Real Madrid are set to take on Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday in a blockbuster fixture. However, Los Blancos will be without key forward Vinicius Jr for the match after he was sidelined with an injury. The news comes after Vinicius played all 90 minutes for Madrid on Sunday, picking up an assist along the way, in a 3-0 La Liga win over Leganes.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The news is a huge boost to the Reds as Vinicius has once again been in fine form for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. The winger has four goals in four Champions League appearances so far in 2024-25. He’s also bagged eight times and conjured up five assists in 13 La Liga appearances. His absence will therefore be a problem for Real Madrid, who were beaten 3-1 by AC Milan last time out in Europe and currently sit down in 18th place in the table. According to AS, Vinicius is expected to be out of action for a month and will also sit out games against Getafe, Athletic, Girona, Atalanta and Rayo Vallecano.
WHAT REAL MADRID SAID
A club statement read: “Following tests carried out today by the Real Madrid Medical Services on our player Vini Jr., he has been diagnosed with an injury to the biceps femoris in his left leg. His progress will be monitored.”
WHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID
Ancelotti will have to tweak his team without Vinicius Jr and could return Kylian Mbappe to his favoured position on the left of the attack. The superstar signing has struggled to consistently impress in a central attacking role following his move to the Santiago Bernabeu but was on target against Leganes to end a run of four games without a goal for his club.
