Real Madrid's 4 major injury concerns after international break

Real Madrid could be without as many as eight first-team players when we face Villarreal and Inter Milan after the international break. And to make matters worse, Raphel Varane and Sergio Ramos could also be added to that list - depending on the extent of their respective knocks.

Considering our heavy loss to Valencia before the break - and our lack of consistency in the Champions League - we need our players to be fit and ready. With that in mind, here are four players whose situations need to be closely monitored:

Sergio Ramos: The captain needs to be there - else, the entire system comes crumbling down. Our defence was poor against Valencia but to put up a strong fight, we need Ramos. He seems to have injured his hamstring while on international duty with Spain but we are yet to receive any official information.

Raphael Varane: Same goes for Varane, with France boss Didier Deschamps confirming that there is a problem. As Eder Militao recovers from Covid-19, we may have no first-team centre-backs available against Villarreal. Only time will tell.

Federico Valverde: The 22-year-old has been the engine in our midfield but he will be out for almost a month as he recovers from a fractured leg. The onus will be on Luka Modric to deliver in his absence - but it could end up being too much for the 35-year-old.

Karim Benzema: The Frenchman is our best option for the striker's role, with Luka Jovic and Mariano Diaz struggling to nail a regular spot. Against Valencia, Benzema faced a slight abductor problem and it is unsure if he could return in time to face Villarreal.

Source:tribuna.com