ANKARA
Real Madrid beat Osasuna 4-0 in a Saturday Spanish La Liga match, but the victors were dismayed after their Brazilian defender Eder Militao’s major knee injury.
Brazilian superstar Vinicius Junior scored three goals to be the key player for the big win at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Real Madrid’s English star Jude Bellingham also scored his first goal of the season against Osasuna.
In the first half, central defender Militao, 26, was in agony after he was brought down in the Osasuna area. He was carried on a stretcher.
In a statement, the Whites confirmed Militao was diagnosed with “a complete tear of the anterior cruciate ligament with involvement of both menisci in his right leg.” He will undergo a knee surgery.
Real Madrid pair Lucas Vazquez and Rodrygo also had injury problems and were subbed out.
Real Madrid are troubled by injuries as their right-back Dani Carvajal suffered from an anterior cruciate ligament injury in October to have undergone a knee surgery.
The club’s Austrian defender David Alaba has not been playing since December 2023 for a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. He may return in 2025.
The team’s Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois still have an adductor injury in his left leg to have missed several matches.
Before the international break, second-place Real Madrid are now six points behind leaders Barcelona, which will visit Real Sociedad on Sunday evening.
Barcelona have 33 points in 12 league matches.
Following the loss in Madrid, Osasuna have 21 points to be in the fifth position.
