Rudiger diagnosed with leg muscle injury, set to miss UCL clash with Man City

Real Madrid central defender Antonio Rudiger has been diagnosed with a leg muscle injury sustained in a Spanish league game on Saturday.

Madrid on Sunday state that Rudiger has “an injury to the biceps femoris” in his right leg, which will likely see him miss their Champions League match against Manchester City on Feb. 11.

The 31-year-old German player had to be substituted in the 15th minute of Madrid’s 1-0 loss at Espanyol.

Though Madrid did not give a timetable for Rüdiger’s return, Spanish media said he is expected to be out for two to three weeks.

Madrid play at Leganes in the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, host Atlético Madrid in the Spanish league on Saturday and visit Manchester City for their UCL playoff next Tuesday.

Rudiger has become an important player in the team and would be a huge miss for Carlo Ancelotti.

Antonio Rudiger injured during the LaLiga match between RCD Espanyol de Barcelona and Real Madrid CF. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images)

Apart from Rudiger, the club are missing Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao through long-term injuries, whereas David Alaba has just returned from a long injury layoff.

Madrid will hope Rudiger’s absence won’t be felt in the crucial UCL matches against Man City, where both sides will be fighting for a place in the Round of 16 stage.

Carlo Ancelotti is under severe pressure to deliver and various report claimed he might be shown the exit door if they lose to Man City in the Champions League playoff match.

Despite the injury to Rudiger, Madrid are unlikely to bring in a new defender as January transfer window comes to an end on February 3.