[News] Big blow for Real Madrid as Raphael Varane tests positive for coronavirus hours before Champions League quarter-final clash with Liverpool

Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane will miss Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Liverpool after testing positive for coronavirus.

The 27-year-old French international was set to start the quarter-final first leg in Spain but will now be unavailable for Zinedine Zidane’s side after he returned a positive Coronavirus test on the morning of the match.

The Spanish giants will be without both first-choice central defenders for the game tonight with Sergio Ramos already sidelined due to a calf injury he picked up on international duty with Spain.

Real said in a statement on their official website: “Real Madrid C. F. informs that our player Raphael Varane tested positive in the COVID-19 test he underwent this morning.”

Brazilian defender Eder Militao will now be required to start alongside Nacho Fernandez and Ferland Mendy, with coach Zinedine Zidane likely to use a 3-5-2 formation.