MADRID, Nov. 3 -- Real Madrid have been dealt a blow ahead of their Champions League trip to Liverpool, as Argentine winger Franco Mastantuono will miss the match with a groin injury.

"Following tests carried out today on Franco Mastantuono by Real Madrid's medical department, the player has been diagnosed with pubalgia. His recovery will be monitored," the club confirmed on its website.

Pubalgia, sometimes referred to as a sports hernia, affects the lower abdomen and groin area and often results from the repeated twisting and turning motions common in football. The condition can be persistent and difficult to treat.

Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Athletic Club's Nico Williams have both recently struggled with the same issue. While rest ...