Luka Jovic ruled out for Real Madrid’s clash at Villarreal after testing positive for coronavirus… but Eden Hazard is expected to return for Zinedine Zidane’s side
- Real Madrid will return to LaLiga action on Saturday when they visit Villarreal
- However they will be without Luka Jovic who has tested positive for coronavirus
- Striker had been on fine form playing for Serbia during the international break
Real Madrid have confirmed that striker Luka Jovic has tested positive for coronavirus and will now miss their clash with Villarreal on Saturday.
Jovic was on international duty with Serbia this week and scored twice as they defeated Russia 5-0 on Wednesday in Belgrade.
The striker was also on target in the final minute in their Euro 2020 play-off final defeat by Scotland eight days ago in the Serbian capital to force extra-time before seeing his side agonisingly lose the shootout.
Luka Jovic’s positive test for coronavirus means he will miss out for Real Madrid on Saturday
In a statement released on Friday, the Spanish champions confirmed the player’s positive reading, and he will be unable to train with team-mates as he self isolates until he posts a negative reading.
It read: ‘Real Madrid CF would like to inform that our player Luka Jovic has given a positive result in the Covid-19 tests carried out on Friday morning.’
Madrid had feared Jovic would produce a positive test when it was revealed that three of his international team-mates in Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Dorde Nikolic, and Darko Lazovic, as well as a team physio, had also produced positive results.
Jovic has been on international duty with Serbia this week and scored twice against Russia
The Spanish champions though can welcome back Eden Hazard following his positive test
The club have already been hit with a spate of coronavirus infections this season including in recent weeks Eden Hazard, Casemiro and Eder Militao but all have recovered and are back in first-team training.
But there will still be concerns over other stars including Croatia’s Luka Modric, Ukraine’s Andriy Lunin and Norway’s Martin Odegaard who have all been away with international teams that have returned positive tests during this international break. However, none of the three players have returned any positive tests.
In more frustrating news for the Spanish champions they look set to be without captain Sergio Ramos for this weekend and their upcoming Champions League clash with Inter Milan after he picked up a knock in Spain’s 6-0 victory over Germany on Tuesday night.
Despite his form for Serbia, Jovic has endured a frustrating start to the season in Spain, failing to net in five matches across all competitions where he has yet to complete 90 minutes under manager Zinedine Zidane.
As LaLiga returns following the international break, fourth placed Madrid travel to Villarreal in second with a game in hand and could leap above their opponents into second spot in the table with victory,
