Eder Militao suffers knee injury, leaving Real Madrid vs Osasuna on stretcher

Eder Militao left Real Madrid’s La Liga match with Osasuna on Saturday on a stretcher after suffering what appeared to be a serious knee injury.

The Brazil international, 26, was forced off after 30 minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu after appearing to get his knuckles caught in the turf.

He received treatment from medical staff on his right knee before leaving the field on a stretcher with his shirt covering his face. He was replaced by Raul Asencio, who came on to make his senior debut for the club.

Rodrygo (quad) also had to come off earlier in the game, while Lucas Vazquez (hip) was also withdrawn at half-time.

The club say all three will undergo tests later on Saturday afternoon.

“It’s quite rare,” manager Carlo Ancelotti said of the team suffering three injuries in one half.

“The demands of this schedule do not allow the players to get enough rest. They come to the games more tired and the risk of injury is higher… For everyone, not just us”.

Militao tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee in the opening game of last season and did not return until March.

He has been Antonio Rudiger’s regular central defensive partner this term and has made 17 appearances in all competitions, including in all 12 of their league games so far.

Signed from Porto for €50m in 2019, Militao has won two Champions Leagues, three La Liga titles, a Club World Cup, two European Super Cups, a Copa del Rey and two Supercopas de Espana.

In Militao’s absence, a hat-trick from Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham’s first goal of the season secured a comfortable 4-0 win.

Real Madrid are next in action after the international break at Leganes on November 24.

(Denis Doyle/Getty Images)