Pepe in danger of missing Real Madrid's season opener with thigh injury

Real Madrid could be without Pepe for its opening match of the Spanish season because of a thigh injury.

The Portuguese centre-back is facing a race against time to regain fitness for Madrid's first La Liga match Aug. 23 against Sporting Gijon after tests on his right thigh revealed a muscle injury.

A statement on the team's website, however, did not provide a timetable for his return.

A medical examination on the player in the Universitario Sanitas La Moraleja hospital has shown that he has a muscle injury in his right leg. His progress will be closely monitored.

The 32-year-old appeared to suffer the injury during Madrid's preseason match against Bayern Munich on Tuesday, when he was forced to leave 15 minutes into the fixture.