Real Madrid center back Sergio Ramos has been out for weeks since suffering a knee injury that required surgery.
The Royal White captain last made an appearance for the club on Jan. 10, completing 95 percent of his 97 pass attempts, via WhoScored.com, in a 0-0 draw in snowy Pamplona.
Ramos is set to miss this week’s Champions League Round of 16 first leg against Atalanta, and while Madridistas are more concerned with Karim Benzema – their only proven goal-scorer – being out for this match, Ramos’ injury also looms large. He is so crucial for this team in the Champions League, as we saw in last year’s Round of 16.
According to a report from Tomas Roncero of AS, Sergio Ramos is going to try to return to Real Madrid for the March 13 fixture in La Liga against Elche, whom Los Blancos previously drew 1-1 on Dec. 30. If he cannot return then, he will try to return on March 16 for the second leg against Atalanta in the Champions League.
Real Madrid won’t have Sergio Ramos for at least three more key fixtures
That means Ramos is still set to miss three more big matches for Los Blancos. After this week’s Champions League battle in Bergamo, Los Blancos will face Real Sociedad at home on Monday and then rivals Atletico Madrid the following weekend at the Wanda Metropolitano. That match could end up deciding La Liga, as Atleti and Real are in a battle for first, with Los Rojiblancos still holding an advantage despite recent slips to Levante.
Real Madrid are coming off three straight clean sheets, with Thibaut Courtois back in absolute top form between the posts. The center back duo of Raphael Varane and Nacho Fernandez is experienced and competent, as the two central defenders have been class in recent matches.
Having Ramos back for the second leg of the Champions League would be a massive boost and not just defensively. He was Real’s second-leading goal-scorer in the 2019-2020 season, adding plenty of clutch goals down the stretch of the title run. And his ball-playing ability has been second-to-none at the center back position over the past year.
Here’s to hoping Ramos can return in mid-March and be close to 100 percent for the second fixture against Atalanta. And here’s to hoping Los Blancos can continue to play well defensively before his return. La Real, Atleti, and Atalanta have some dangerous attacking players like Mikel Oyarzabal, Alexander Isak, Luis Suarez, Joao Felix, Luis Muriel, and Duvan Zapata.