Real Madrid's Casemiro, Hazard diagnosed with COVID-19

Real Madrid's Casemiro (L) is congratulated by teammate Eden Hazard after scoring the opening goal during the Spanish La Liga football match between RCD Espanyol and Real Madrid at the Cornella-El Prat stadium in Barcelona, Spain, June 28, 2020. (AP Photo)

by REUTERS

Nov 07, 2020 2:11 pm

Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro and forward Eden Hazard have tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of their La Liga clash at Valencia, the Spanish champion said Saturday.

"Our players Casemiro and Hazard have given positive results in the COVID-19 tests carried out on Friday morning," Real said in a statement.

The club said that all other first-team players and coaching staff, as well as the club employees who work directly with them, had returned negative tests.

Real defender Eder Militao tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this week and was forced to miss Tuesday's 3-2 victory against Inter Milan in the Champions League.

Real, who are a point and place behind La Liga leader Real Sociedad with a game in hand, faces 13th-place Valencia on Sunday.

Spain is facing a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic as both new cases and fatalities sharply increased in recent weeks.

The Health Ministry reported 347 more deaths from COVID-19 and another 22,516 new infections Friday, as many Spanish nursing homes reported new outbreaks.