Heinze blow adds to Madrid concerns

Real Madrid CF's injury crisis continues to worsen with news that defender Gabriel Heinze faces a three-week spell on the sidelines with a left calf problem, ruling him out of their final Group H game against FC Zenit St. Petersburg on 10 December.

Lengthy absentee list
The Argentinian international picked up the knock towards the end of his side's 1-0 win away to FC BATE Borisov in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday – a result that secured Los Merengues a place in the last 16 – and he becomes the latest player to enter an already-packed treatment room at the club. Ruud van Nistelrooy is a long-term absentee with a knee injury while fellow striker Gonzalo Higuaín is out with a sprained ankle. Fabio Cannavaro and Mahamadou Diarra are both recovering from thigh problems, Arjen Robben has a torn calf muscle and fellow midfielder Rubén de la Red is being monitored after fainting during the Copa del Rey defeat against Real Unión Club on 30 October.