Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane will have surgery on his right knee and will be out of action for four to six weeks, Spanish media reported.
The France international stumbled awkwardly while making a tackle during Real's 1-1 draw at Espanyol on Saturday and was substituted after 19 minutes.
“I am sad! The tests today have revealed an injury to the meniscus. They are going to operate on me as soon as possible,” the 20-year-old said on his Twitter feed yesterday.
Varane will miss the King’s Cup final against Atletico Madrid on Friday, and Real’s last two league games of the season.
Kelvin breaks Benfica hearts
A stoppage-time goal from substitute Kelvin handed Porto a dramatic 2-1 home win over fierce rivals Benfica on Saturday night that put them on the verge of clinching a third consecutive Portuguese league title.
The two teams were undefeated going into the penultimate game of the season and victory gave leaders Porto a one-point advantage over second-placed Benfica.
The majority of the Dragao stadium’s 50,000-capacity crowd were ecstatic at the final whistle after 19-year-old midfielder Kelvin struck with a fierce, diagonal left-foot shot.
Ivanovic hoping for happy ending
Branislav Ivanovic is hoping for a silver lining for Chelsea in the Europa League final with Benfica after another tumultuous season.
After suffering the ignominy of becoming the first holders to exit the Champions League before Christmas, the Blues will bid to end the campaign with a European trophy for a second successive season.
“The season has been difficult, but now is almost the end of it and we have to do everything to finish the job off,” said Ivanovic.
“It was very disappointing for us to go out of the Champions League. We tried to motivate ourselves to do our best in the Europa League.”
Zabaleta laments lack of passion
Pablo Zabaleta highlighted a lack of passion and desire in the Manchester City side after their shock FA Cup final loss to Wigan.
Zabaleta himself created unwanted history on a dismal day for City at Wembley as he became only the third man to be sent off in a cup final as the Blues lost 1-0.
“It was one of those days I think,” Zabaleta said.
“We tried to do our best but the team looked without passion, desire and it was difficult to find an answer why everything went wrong. The only thing we can say now is congratulations to Wigan, they played better than us and they deserved this.”
Heynckes proud of Bayern heroes
Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes was filled with pride as his team lifted the Bundesliga trophy after Saturday’s 3-0 win over Augsburg.
“No team in the history of the Bundesliga have ever played football the way we have this year,” said Heynckes, who will be replaced by Pep Guardiola at the end of the season.
“We played at a consistently high level and that fills me with pride.”
As he took to the balcony of Munich’s City Hall to greet an estimated 20,000 fans, Heynckes said: “Your excitement tells me that you were starved and that you’ve been waiting for what feels like a decade to be back here.”
Lampard wants to emulate Giggs
The future may be far from certain for Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard, but he is targeting a few more years at the top.
The England midfielder will be 35 in June and his current contract expires at the end of the season, when a decision will be made which sees him stay or go.
Lampard hopes to emulate the longevity of Manchester United star Ryan Giggs.
“I’d love to carry on as long as I feel I can do and I feel I’m fit,” Lampard said.
“I’d love to do that, for another three or four years. Ryan Giggs (has) got an aura around him. All the players at the club look up to him. He’s the mark.”
Van Bommel hangs up his boots
PSV Eindhoven captain Mark van Bommel has retired from football after a career spanning 21 seasons and which included titles in four countries and a Champions League winners medal.
The 36-year-old midfielder announced his retirement yesterday after the 3-1 defeat at Twente in which he was sent off 19 minutes before time for a second bookable offence.
“I doubted for a while about my future but this season, it became tougher to stay fit after the Achilles tendon injury I sustained last season,” he told reporters, adding that he wanted to retire on his own terms.