Eder Militao to Miss Inter Game After Testing Positive for COVID-19

Real Madrid have confirmed that centre-back Eder Militao has tested positive for COVID-19 and will therefore miss Tuesday's meeting with Inter in the Champions League.

Zinedine Zidane's side currently sit bottom of their group, having failed to win either of their opening two matches against Shakhtar Donetsk and Borussia Monchengladbach, so Tuesday's meeting with Inter is seen as a must-win game.

In the build-up to the game, the Real squad were all tested for COVID-19. There was initially one inconclusive result, and Real have now confirmed on their official website that it was Militao who needed a second test, which has come up positive.

"Real Madrid C. F. would like to inform that our player, Eder Militao, has tested positive in the COVID-19 tests carried out on Sunday morning.

"All the other players and the technical staff from the first team, as well as all the employees of the club who work directly with them, tested negative in that same test. The club would like to confirm once again that everyone, with the exception of Eder Militao, tested negative in the antigen tests carried out that same morning."

It means that Real will be without Militao, who started two of their last four games, until after the international break.

Zidane is also without Nacho Fernandez, who is sidelined with a muscle injury, so Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane are the only two senior centre-backs at his disposal.

"We've got a very busy fixture list and we have to focus on being physically ready to play every three days," Varane said. "We have to work hard and not worry about injuries. In Europe, with this rate of games, a lot of players have picked up injuries and we know the risk, but you don't win games thinking about injuries. We must always be at our best to win."

Varane also went on to discuss the importance of Ramos. In the two games in which the Spaniard has not played 90 minutes, Real have come out on the losing side.

"As a defender I feel more comfortable when the team defends more compactly because with space we have to make difficult decisions at the back," he continued ."Ramos brings a lot to the team and his character is very good for the side.

"I don't know if it's a coincidence, but without him we haven't been good on a defensive level. My qualities are complemented by his. I make him better and he makes me better. The important thing is the team and the answer is collective: everyone has to be in good shape and together."

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