How long will Lisandro Martínez be out for Manchester United? Will Real Madrid miss two important players against Girona? And when is João Cancelo coming back to the Barcelona lineup?
Here are the latest injury news and updates from around LaLiga and the Premier League.
Lisandro Martínez suffers serious injury
Manchester United defeated West Ham 3-0 over the weekend in a massive Premier League victory that keeps the Red Devils going in the race for a Champions League place.
However, star center back Lisandro Martínez – undoubtedly their best player at the position – left the match after 71 minutes with an injury.
Manager Erik ten Hag said of the Argentinian central defender, “It seems bad, we have to wait and make the right diagnosis. In this moment we are very sad, hopefully it is not too bad but we can only pray. It looks like he has to sit some games out injured again.”
The 26-year-old’s knee injury is indeed serious and could cost him two months of action. Man United have been hit hard with injuries this season, especially Martínez.
A 2022 summer signing from Ajax, Martínez has started just seven matches this season, playing under 600 Premier League minutes for the Red Devils.
Carlo Ancelotti discusses Rüdiger, Camavinga injuries
Real Madrid have already lost Éder Militão and David Alaba to serious injuries, so the recent absences of veteran center backs Nacho Fernández and Antonio Rüdiger have hit even harder.
Rüdiger missed Real’s 1-1 draw with Atlético Madrid and probably would have prevented the defeat had he been on the pitch to deal with the goal former Real man Marcos Llorente scored late.
Real Madrid desperately need their star center back in the lineup. Manager Carlo Ancelotti stated that Rüdiger missed El Derbi with “discomfort” and that he hopes the German international is back for the next match.
Who do the Merengues face next? An even stiffer opponent in LaLiga title contenders Girona on Saturday, Feb. 10.
Real may have suffered another tough injury before the Girona game, as star midfielder Eduardo Camavinga left with a right knee injury. There was concern in Madrid, given Camavinga’s recent history of right knee issues.
However, Carlo downplayed those worries, stating the young Frenchman merely suffered a “knock”.
João Cancelo return date
Barcelona right back João Cancelo has to prove to the club that he belongs over the long term, especially since parent club Manchester City figures to once again set a sky-high asking price for the veteran Portuguese wide man.
Cancelo suffered an injury during Barça’s 3-1 win over Deportivo Alavés, but Javi Miguel of Diario AS reports that the 29-year-old will be ready in time for the Sunday, Feb. 11 fixture in LaLiga against Granada.
Barcelona are third in the league table, eight points behind leaders Real Madrid and six points behind local rivals Girona. Although Granada are in 19th, they have upset the Blaugrana before.
Cancelo assisted the goal in his preceding start, a 1-0 win over Osasuna.
The former Valencia and Juventus man has four goal contributions on the season, averaging three combined dribbles completed and fouls drawn per game with 1.3 key passes per match.
