UCL: Varane to miss Liverpool clash after contracting COVID-19

Raphael Varane, Real Madrid defender, has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League (UCL) clash against Liverpool.

The Spanish La Liga side announced the 27-year-old French footballer’s COVID-19 status in a short statement on its website.

“Real Madrid C. F. informs that our player Raphaël Varane tested positive in the COVID-19 test he underwent this morning,” the statement read.

Real Madrid are due to face Liverpool in the first leg of their quarter-finals tie at the Alfredo Di Stefano stadium and the absence of Varane, who has featured in all eight UCL matches this season, adds to the growing injury list for Zinedine Zidane’s side.

The Frenchman is already without Sergio Ramos due to an injury sustained during the international duty with Spain.

The 13-time UCL winners are left with Eder Militao and Nacho as the only two senior central defenders available for the encounter.

Real Madrid previously defeated Liverpool 3-1 in the 2018 UCL final.