Varane out for four weeks 

Real Madrid’s miserable season has taken another turn for the worse with the loss of key central defender Raphael Varane to injury.

The World Cup winner underwent a scan at Real’s Valdebebas training facility on Tuesday.

The club confirmed it showed an injury to the adductor muscle in his right leg.

According to Spanish radio station Cadena Cope, this is likely to rule Varane out of action for at least a month.

Varane was forced off at half-time in Real’s humiliating 5-1 El Clasico defeat by Barcelona at the weekend, a result which brought about the sacking of manager Julen Lopetegui.

It leaves Real ninth in La Liga, seven points behind leaders and rivals Barca, with four defeats in 10 league games already.

It adds to Real’s defensive injury crisis – first choice full-backs Marcelo and Dani Carvajal are also unavailable, the latter with a calf injury expected to keep him sidelined until the end of November.