Asensio suffers ligament injury

Real Madrid forward Marco Asensio is facing several months out of action after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a pre-season friendly against Arsenal in the United States. The Spanish winger scored the equaliser for Real in the second half before his foot seemed to get caught in the turf as he tussled for possession with Arsenal’s Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang at the 60-minute mark in Maryland on Tuesday. Asensio was taken off on a stretcher with an injury that coach Zinedine Zidane described as “worrisome”, and his fears were confirmed when doctors revealed the extent of the damage to player’s knee. “The player will be surgically operated on in the next few days.”