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Real Madrid defender Marcelo suffers hamstring injury
Madrid, Feb 19 (IANS) Real Madrid have suffered a second injury setback in just four days after left back Marcelo suffered a hamstring injury in his side’s 5-3 win away to Betis.
The Brazilian had to leave the pitch in the 29th minute of the game on Sunday night, to be replaced by Theo Hernandez, reports Xinhua news agency.
It is the second hamstring injury he has suffered this season, with his previous setback sidelining him for around three weeks.
This injury comes two and a half weeks before Madrid’s Champions League return leg away to Paris Saint Germain where they will defend a 3-1 advantage following a late fightback in the Santiago Bernabeu where Marcelo scored the third goal and put in a decisive display down the Madrid left.
If the Brazilian fails to recover in time, Theo Hernandez would be his substitute, although the young Frenchman has little European experience and has not started a league game in 2018.
When asked about Marcelo’s injury, Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said the player thought it was “not too serious,” but Madrid’s Head of External Relations, Emilio Butragueno described it as “very very bad news.”
Marcelo’s hamstring injury follows the news on Friday that midfielder Tony Kroos has suffered a twisted knee ligament and although the club has not made any predictions over his recovery time, the German will also struggle to be fit for the trip to Paris.
–IANS
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Sunil Gavaskar gives his opinion of GT allrounder Rahul Tewatia
The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.
Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.
Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”
Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.