Real Madrid Defender Militão to Undergo Knee Surgery after Damaging Ligament in League Opener

 Real Madrid's Brazilian defender #03 Éder Militão is helped to leave the pitch after resulting injured during the Spanish Liga football match between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao on August 12, 2023. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Brazilian defender #03 Éder Militão is helped to leave the pitch after resulting injured during the Spanish Liga football match between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao on August 12, 2023. (AFP)
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Real Madrid Defender Militão to Undergo Knee Surgery after Damaging Ligament in League Opener

 Real Madrid's Brazilian defender #03 Éder Militão is helped to leave the pitch after resulting injured during the Spanish Liga football match between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao on August 12, 2023. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Brazilian defender #03 Éder Militão is helped to leave the pitch after resulting injured during the Spanish Liga football match between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao on August 12, 2023. (AFP)

Real Madrid defender Éder Militão will need to undergo surgery after injuring his left knee in the team's Spanish league opener, the club said Sunday.

Madrid said Militão has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and will undergo surgery in the coming days. The club did not specify how long it expects the defender to be sidelined, though such injuries usually require several months of recovery.

The 25-year-old Brazil defender got hurt early in the second half of Madrid's 2-0 win at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday. He went down in pain when his left knee appeared to twist awkwardly and had to be helped to walk off the field by two team doctors.

Madrid had already lost starting goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois because of a knee ligament injury last week. Newly signed midfielder Arda Güler also won’t be available for some time — reportedly several weeks — because of a knee problem that will also likely require surgery.

Madrid's next game it at Almeria in the Spanish league on Saturday.



Estoril to Wear Senna-Inspired Kit to Mark Late Brazilian’s First F1 Win 

Ayrton Senna. (AFP/Getty Images)
Ayrton Senna. (AFP/Getty Images)
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Estoril to Wear Senna-Inspired Kit to Mark Late Brazilian’s First F1 Win 

Ayrton Senna. (AFP/Getty Images)
Ayrton Senna. (AFP/Getty Images)

Portuguese top-flight side Estoril Praia will swap their traditional yellow and blue strips for the green and yellow of the Brazilian flag on Saturday to mark the 40th anniversary of the late Ayrton Senna's first Formula One Grand Prix victory.

The special kit, featuring the colors of Senna's iconic helmet, will be worn when Estoril face Braga in Portugal's Primeira Liga in honor of the Brazilian's breakthrough triumph at the Estoril circuit in 1985.

The three-times world champion, who died in a crash at Imola in 1994, mastered torrential conditions at the circuit to claim the first of his 41 grand prix victories.

"Estoril Praia pays tribute to the person and athlete who marked a generation with three world championships for McLaren, whose connection to the municipality of Cascais and Portugal is unequivocal," the club said in a statement.

In another tribute last weekend, the late driver's nephew Bruno drove the Lotus Type 97T which Senna piloted to victory at Estoril as part of a demonstration at the Goodwood Festival in England.

The car will also be on display at the Estoril circuit on Sunday and Monday.