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Real Madrid defender Pepe is set to miss at least two games after picking up a rib injury as his team crashed out of the Copa del Rey to Atletico Madrid on Thursday night. The Copa last-16 second leg at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu finished 2-2, sending Atletico through 4-2 on aggregate to face Barcelona in the quarterfinals, with the first game at the Camp Nou on Wednesday Jan. 21. Pepe, who was twice beaten as Fernando Torres scored both Los Colchoneros goals, had to leave the pitch during the second half after an apparently accidental collision with opposition midfielder Raul Garcia. A club statement has confirmed that subsequent scans found bruising to the Portugal international's ribs. "Following tests carried out on Pepe by Real Madrid's medical services at the Hospital Sanitas La Moraleja, he has been diagnosed with bruised ribs," the statement read. "His progress will be monitored." Local media reports have put the time out at two to three weeks, meaning Raphael Varane is likely to step in alongside Sergio Ramos for Madrid's next La Liga game at Getafe on Sunday, and the following weekend's home game against David Moyes' Real Sociedad.
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