Real Madrid's Militao tests positive for coronavirus

MADRID -- Real Madrid confirmed on Monday that Brazilian central defender Eder Militao has tested positive for COVID-19 a day before his side is due to entertain Inter Milan in a decisive Champions League clash.

The club published a communique on their official website which reads: "Real Madrid communicates that our player Eder Militao has given positive in a test for COVID-19 which was carried out on Sunday morning."

The communique adds that "all of the other players from the first team and technical staff who work directly with them gave negative results in the same test."

Miltao's positive test result further reduces Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane's defensive options for Tuesday's game with just Marcelo, Ferland Mendy, Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane available, along with Lucas Vazquez, who will presumably play as a makeshift right back due to injury problems for Dani Carvajal, Alvaro Odriozola and Nacho Fernandez.

When asked about Militao's positive test in Monday's pre-game press conference, Varane said: "We know we have to be prepared for this kind of unexpected circumstance. You have to adapt and only think about what we can do."

Tuesday's game is vital for both Real Madrid and Inter Milan, with Madrid having just one point from their first Champions League group ties, while Inter have just two.