Marcelo injury: Normally I'd say four to six weeks, but with him...
After half an hour of Real Madrid's LaLiga win at Real Betis on Sunday, Marcelo overextended his right leg as he stretched for the ball, and fell straight to the ground holding the back of his thigh. The left-back was substituted right away.
Such a chain of events is absolutely typical of a hamstring injury, in terms of both the way it happened and the player's immediate reaction. Though the appropriate scans are yet to be carried out, my standard estimate - having now had the chance to watch the incident a couple of times - would be that we're looking at a period of between four and six weeks on the sidelines.
Marcelo has form for speedy recoveries...
However, pretty much every injury Marcelo has suffered at Real Madrid has seen him defy the prognosis with his recovery time. Indeed, the Brazilian has already placed himself in the hands of the club's physios for treatment, even though there is still no definitive diagnosis.
Experience tells me that any player who goes down like he did isn't going to be back in time for the Champions League second leg against Paris Saint-Germain in a fortnight. But since it's Marcelo, I'm hesitant to completely rule him out.
Particularly given that it's Real's most important game of the season so far.