Mali midfielder Mahamadou Diarra will be out for at least two weeks due to a leg injury.
The Real Madrid star underwent a medical scan on Monday which revealed that he has a thigh muscle problem.
He injured a muscle in his left leg during Real's 4-3 victory over Malaga on Saturday.
The 27-year-old will miss Real's Spanish FA Cup match against Real Union on Wednesday and the Spanish league games against Valladolid and Recreativo Huelva.
Real are already without striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, who is consulting a knee specialist over treatment for the same injury that threatened his career eight years ago.
The Dutch striker may require a second operation after aggravating an external meniscus problem in his right knee during last week's Champions League loss to Juventus.
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