Varane picks up niggle, replaced by Nacho at halftime

Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane picked up a niggle on his right leg during the first half against Osasuna and was replaced by Nacho at half-time. Varane was able to play the first 45 minutes so Madrid’s coaching staff will be hoping that this minor injury isn’t serious enough to force him to miss Wednesday’s clash against Chelsea in the return of the Champions League Semifinals.

Varane will get tests on his right leg this Sunday and the results of those tests will reveal if he’s actually ready to face Chelsea.

If he isn’t, Zidane’s decision about his defensive line will be intriguing, given that Nacho will likely be needed to start at the left-back spot if Ferland Mendy can’t recover in time for the game. Ramos rejoined the squad in training last week but Zidane probably wanted him to at least play some minutes tonight before starting in such a crucial match like the one against Chelsea, so his availability for Wednesday’s game isn’t as certain as it looked a few days ago.

Stay tuned for more news on Varane’s status this Sunday.