Real Madrid: Three takeaways from the beatdown at the Mestalla
By Ben Sundock
Injuries, illness, and the international break
Real Madrid really just can’t catch a break. After making his fateful return to the squad, Eden Hazard tested positive for COVID-19 this week along with defensive midfielder Casemiro. The two are key cogs in Zizou’s plans and will likely be returning to full fitness following the international break.
In this match alone, Real Madrid fans feared that Karim Benzema suffered a minor injury, however, the real concern now turns to another focal point in this first-team, Federico Valverde.
Valverde suffered a fracture to the posterior tibial spine of his right leg and is set for an extended stay on the sideline.
Next. Players ratings from the 1-4 loss against Valencia. dark
The tentative recovery time is estimated at six weeks, but Valverde could be out longer as he tries to work back to full fitness. Though the international breaks are usually an enormous headache, this time around, Los Blancos are likely thankful for the reprieve in the congested schedule.
This offers them more time to heal up and prepare for another crazy fixture list coming in late November and December.