Sergio Ramos looking to force Atlético return
The Real Madrid captain picked up an ankle knock in the Spanish Super Cup and will miss the upcoming games, but has a clear focus for recovery.
Sergio Ramos injured his right ankle against Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final in Jeddah on Sunday, although he did still manage to finish the game and slot home the decisive penalty. As we reported on Monday, the Real Madrid captain will likely be out for around two weeks, and he has a clear eye on the target return date.
Ramos wants Derbi 'bookends'
The Valdebas training pitch has not yet seen the Spanish defender, while he works alone on his recovery, but the LaLiga fixture against Atlético on 1 February is the one he is aiming to be back for. To be match ready for that, he'll have to make sure he is fully training with the rest of the first team squad in the week leading up to it, and that will mean no relapses can occur.
If this deadline is met, Ramos will miss LaLiga games against Sevilla (18 Jan) and Valladolid (22 Jan) as well as the Copa del Rey clash against (ultra-excited) minnows, Unionistas de Salamanca on 22 Jan. The gap in the heart of Los Blancos' defence will be filled by a Diego Militao who is gradually growing into the player the club believed they were buying, and will be alongside Raphael Varane who is back to his best. Neither will step into his penalty-taking duties, however.
Ramos has played 29 games across this season, which equates to 2,516 minutes and in which he has scored six goals as a centre half. The captain has won 21 titles with the capital club since moving from Sevilla: 4 Champions Leagues, 4 LaLigas, 4 Club World Cups, 3 European Super Cups, 2 Copas del Rey and 4 Spanish Super Cups.