Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid will have to navigate next weekend’s El Clasico clash with FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu without Brazilian youngster Rodrygo.

The Teenager has been effective on the number of occasions that he has been called into the first team this season scoring two goals in 12 La Liga matches and 4 in 4 UEFA Champions League games.

However, after being sent off in a Real Madrid Castilla game on Sunday, the 19-year-old will miss the El Clasico due to suspension.

Rodrygo had scored a brilliant individual goal late in the game to put the game at 2-0 against SS Reyes, but the Brazilian celebrated the goal by goading and taunting the goalkeeper in the Spanish Segunda B game.

He was subsequently booked for a second bookable offence and thus got a red card which means he is suspended for the El Clasico.

It is a big blow for Zinedine Zidane who has also lost Neymar for a long term after an injury to the Belgian and was hoping to bring Rodrygo back into the main team.

Eden Hazard fractured his ankle in the loss to Levante and is expected to be out for four months with a place at the Euro 2020 in big doubt.

The task becomes tougher for Real Madrid who are now two points behind FC Barcelona after the team’s 1-0 loss to Levante on Saturday which was followed with a 5-0 thrashing of Eibar by the Catalunya club.

Nevertheless, Rodrygo will be able to feature for Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday against Manchester City in one of the Round of 16 games.

Meanwhile, Sevilla beat Getafe 3-0 away from home, Valladolid defeated Españyol 2-1, Alaves 2-1 and Granada got a massive 3-0 victory over Osasuna.

Written by: Daniel Ademiju Idowu