By Richard Bailey Last updated: 1st December 2008
Sneijder and Pepe: Joined by Torres on injury list
Real Madrid have been dealt more injury heartache after Wesley Sneijder, Pepe and Miguel Torres all picked up muscle problems in the 3-1 defeat to Getafe on Saturday.
Midfielder Sneijder will be out for 10 days while defender Miguel Torres will be out for three weeks with Pepe missing for up to four weeks.
The news will disappoint manager Bernd Schuster who already has seven first teamers on the injury list.
Real are already without Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Ruben De La Red, Mahamadou Diarra, Gonzalo Higuain, Fabio Cannavaro, Gabriel Heinze and Arjen Robben.
The injuries have taken their toll and Schuster has found himself under intense pressure after poor form saw his side crash out of the Spanish Cup to lowly Real Union and lose twice in the UEFA Champions League to Juventus.
Schuster's position worsened on Saturday as the Getafe defeat meant his side slipped to fourth in the league six points behind leaders Barcelona.
The trio's injuries will only add to Schuster's woes as he looks to get his threadbare squad ready for Sunday's crucial clash with Sevilla.
Sneijder, Torres and Pepe are all set to miss the Sevilla match and the final UEFA Champions League group game against Zenit St Petersburg but Real have already qualified for the last 16 of the competition.
Defenders Torres and Pepe also look unlikely to return to the Real team before the Christmas holiday period.
Barclays Premiership. Click here to bet.| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 10th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Aston Villa vs West Brom |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Middlesbrough vs Sunderland |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man City |
| 17:30 | Stoke vs Liverpool |
| Sunday 11th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Wigan vs Tottenham |
| 16:00 | Man Utd vs Chelsea |
| Wednesday 14th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Man Utd vs Wigan |
| Saturday 17th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Newcastle |
| 15:00 | Bolton vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Wigan |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | West Brom vs Middlesbrough |
| 17:30 | Hull vs Arsenal |
| Sunday 18th January | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | West Ham vs Fulham |
| 16:00 | Tottenham vs Portsmouth |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 30th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 0 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Monday 29th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 1 - 0 Middlesbrough | |
| Sunday 28th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Blackburn 2 - 2 Man City | |
| Fulham 2 - 2 Chelsea | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Everton 3 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Arsenal 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| West Brom 2 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Bolton 0 - 1 Wigan | |
| Newcastle 1 - 5 Liverpool | |
| Friday 26th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 2 Arsenal | |
| Liverpool 3 - 0 Bolton | |
| Wigan 2 - 1 Newcastle | |
| Middlesbrough 0 - 1 Everton | |
| Man City 5 - 1 Hull | |
| Sunderland 0 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Portsmouth 1 - 4 West Ham | |
| Tottenham 0 - 0 Fulham | |
| Chelsea 2 - 0 West Brom | |
| Stoke 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
Watch top Serie A action on your PC. Sunday's action includes Roma clash against David Beckham's Milan.
Paul Merson is tipping Chelsea to avoid a crisis by snatching a draw at Old Trafford on Super Sunday.
Manchester United and Chelsea warmed up for their title showdown with a defeat at Derby and home draw with Southend.
Jermain Defoe has completed his move to Spurs, while Sam Allardyce will not set a price for Man City target Roque Santa Cruz.
Paul Ince has told Sky Sports News he is disappointed he did not receive the public backing of Blackburn.
Arsene Wenger has intimated negotiations to bring Andrei Arshavin to Arsenal are progressing well.
Mark Hughes has received 'tentative enquiries' regarding members of his Manchester City squad.