Real Madrid defender Eder Militao is expected to be fit for El Clasico later this month, despite being being forced to withdraw from Brazil duty with a thigh injury.
Militao, 26, sustained the issue in his left leg during Madrid’s 2-0 La Liga victory over Villarreal, where he came on as a substitute in the 70th minute.
On Sunday, the Brazil Football Federation (CBF) said that Militao “left the Spanish club’s La Liga match (against Villarreal) complaining of muscle pain in his left thigh”, forcing him to be ruled out of his country’s World Cup qualifiers against Chile on October 10 and Peru five days later.
Madrid said in a statement on Tuesday that Militao “has been diagnosed with a muscular injury in the quadriceps muscle of his left leg”. He will be out for around 10 days.
As well as the game against rivals Barcelona on October 26, Militao has a good chance of being available for Madrid’s fixture against Celta Vigo on October 19. Carlo Ancelotti’s side also face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on October 22.
Militao’s absence adds to Madrid’s growing injury list, which includes Vinicius Junior, Brahim Diaz and Dani Carvajal.
Vinicius Jr is recovering from a neck injury picked up against Villarreal and could feature against Celta Vigo after the international break. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois may also return, having made progress in his recovery from an abductor injury. Diaz, meanwhile, is still nursing a hip abductor injury.
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