Pepe Injury: Updates on Real Madrid Star's Leg and Return

Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez has been working with a patched-up defence since centre-back Pepe was diagnosed with a "muscular injury caused by a knock to his left leg" on Sept. 25. However, the veteran has made his first-team comeback.

Continue for updates.

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Pepe Returns for Sevilla Encounter

Sunday, Nov. 8

Real Madrid confirmed Pepe's return to the starting lineup for the La Liga fixture.

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Varane's Place at Risk from Pepe

News of Pepe's injury came after Sergio Ramos dislocated his shoulder earlier in September, limiting Benitez's options in central defence—not to mention taking a lot of experience away from his back four.

Young talent Raphael Varane has steered the ship admirably in the pair's absence, but now he'll have to make way if Benitez opts to reinstate his first-choice central partnership.

Varane is arguably the most physically gifted of the three defenders, but Ramos and Pepe have won the game's biggest honours together, so the young defender is struggling to establish himself as an automatic starter.