PA Media/dpa
London
Striker Rodrygo is out of Real Madrid’s El Clasico showdown with Barcelona on Saturday evening with a hamstring injury.
The 23-year-old Brazil international limped off five minutes from the end of Tuesday night’s 5-2 Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund and has now undergone tests which have revealed the extent of the damage.
A statement on the club’s official website read: “Following tests carried out on our player Rodrygo Goes by the Real Madrid medical services today, he’s been diagnosed with an injury to the biceps femoris muscle in his right thigh. His recovery will be assessed.” Reports from Spain have since suggested the frontman, who has scored three goals in 13 appearances so far this season, could be sidelined for up to three weeks by the injury.
The news comes as a blow to manager Carlo Ancelotti, whose injury problems looked to be abating after a testing start to the campaign.
Madrid currently lie second in the La Liga table, three points adrift of Barcelona with the sides due to meet at the Bernabeu Stadium this weekend.
They have won the last four El Clasicos including all three meetings last season, when they prevailed 2-1 away and 3-2 at home in the league either side of a 4-1 Spanish Super Cup victory.
