Real Madrid Sweat On Marcelo

By Joshua Walters

Real Madrid are sweating on Marcelo’s fitness ahead of Saturday’s Madrid derby with Atletico de Madrid after the left-wing-back picked up a calf injury and was stretched off during Wednesday night’s 3-0 defeat at Sevilla.

The European Champions were hammered at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, courtesy André Silva’s brace and a goal from Wissam Yedder.

The concerns for the Los Blancos on the night was not just the defeat and its accompanying loss of the La Liga top spot to rivals Barcelona, but also the injury of the dependable Marcelo, who looks almost certain to miss the must-win clash against the city rivals.

“It seems that he has torn his calf, but we will have to wait and see for the medical tests tomorrow,” said Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui after the loss in Sevilla.

Marcelo could be on the sidelines for at least three weeks if tests confirm the injury, and although Lopetegui has options in Nacho and academy player Sergio Reguilon, the offensive creativity of the Brazilian would be surely missed in the derby.