Real Madrid star Raphael Varane rule out of Chelsea second leg clash

Chelsea has been handed a significant boost as Real Madrid star Raphael Varane is ruled out of the second leg.

Varane is a four-time Champions League winner and he was expected earlier to start at Stamford Bridge, particularly in Sergio Ramos’ absence. However, the Frenchman will miss his side’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Chelsea as a result of injury.

Moreso, the club while speaking in a  brief statement noted that the World Cup winner will miss the tie in west London as he’s suffering from an abductor injury.

‘’After the tests carried out today on our player by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he was diagnosed with an injury to the right adductor muscles,’’ the club statement read.

Zinedine Zidane had been hopeful that Varane would recover in time but his absence leaves the Frenchman short on options in defence.

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Midfielder Federico Valverde, who has been filling in at right-back, is also a doubt for the trip to west London having tested positive for coronavirus recently.

Madrid was all over the place in the first 30 minutes against Thomas Tuchel’s men but they settled after Benzema’s thumping equaliser. The Spanish giants are looking to reach the final for the first time since 2018 when they beat Liverpool in Kiev.