Real Madrid star Pepe breaks two ribs in clash with team-mate Toni Kroos and will now miss Champions League quarter-finals
Defender was taken to hospital after accidental collision and will not be available for either leg of crunch Bayern Munich clash
REAL MADRID star Pepe has broken two ribs in a clash with team-mate Toni Kroos and will now miss Champions League quarter-finals.
The Portuguese defender was taken to hospital after accidental collision and will not be available for either leg of crunch Bayern Munich clash in the next fortnight.
Pepe, who had earlier scored Real's goal, collided with German Kroos in the second half of Real's 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
A statement read: "After the examinations carried out today on Pepe at the Sanitas La Moraleja University Hospital, he has been diagnosed with fractures in seventh and eighth ribs on the left side."
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It adds to Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane's injury woes ahead of the tricky two-legged affair as French centre-back Raphael Varane - Pepe's probable replacement - is also out with a hamstring issue.
It means his only central defenders with first team experience are Sergio Ramos and Nacho against the German champions.
On the domestic side, the El Clasico against Barcelona is set for April 23 and he will up against it to be fit for that.
The 34-year-old's contract is up this summer, leading to speculation that his 10-year stint in the Spanish capital is coming to a close as he gets older.