Sergio Ramos will sit out this weekend’s match with Elche to ensure his is available for the Madrid derby next weekend, according to reports.
Marca claims Carlo Ancelotti will rest the Madrid vice-captain in favour of Raphael Varane, who is recently back from long-term injury problems.
Ramos is a yellow card away from a one-match ban in La Liga, and with Los Blancos set to visit the Vicente Calderon in a match that will have a huge bearing on the destination of this year’s title, Ancelotti is said to be taking no chances and wants his defensive lynchpin available.
The World Cup winner has formed a superb centre-back pairing with Pepe this season. In 2014 along, Los Blancos have kept 10 clean sheets in the 12 games they’ve played.
Varane has only returned following a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The former Lens player, who impressed in his debut season last year, picked up a knee injury while on international duty with France last November. It was a blow to the youngster who had to watch from the sidelines through injury at the end of last season as Los Blancos unraveled and failed to win a trophy and experience success in Jose Mourinho’s last campaign in charge.
