Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr faces three-week layoff due to injury

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr will miss the upcoming Champions League clash against Liverpool after suffering a hamstring injury. The Brazilian played the entirety of Real Madrid’s 3-0 La Liga victory over Leganes on Sunday but was later confirmed to have sustained “an injury to the biceps femoris in his left leg,” according to a club statement.

The injury has ruled him out of the traveling squad for Wednesday’s game at Anfield, where Madrid, currently 18th in the 36-team Champions League table, face top-of-the-table Liverpool.

Although Real Madrid has not disclosed the extent of the injury, reports from Spanish outlet Marca suggest Vinicius Jr could be sidelined for approximately three weeks. The player appeared to express his frustration at the packed football schedule, writing on X: “Crazy calendar. Time to recover.”

Vinicius Jr’s absence is a blow for the La Liga giants as they look to gain critical points in the group stage. Real Madrid named a 19-man squad for the trip to Merseyside, with his name noticeably absent.

Liverpool, on the other hand, may also be without key defender Trent Alexander-Arnold for the match. The England international missed Sunday’s 3-2 victory over Southampton due to a hamstring injury sustained before the international break.

The matchup at Anfield promises to be an intense contest, with both sides facing the challenges of missing key players. Madrid will rely on their remaining attacking options, while Liverpool looks to extend their lead at the top of the group.