Atletico's Le Normand suffers traumatic brain injury after Madrid derby

Atletico Madrid defender Robin Le Normand suffered a traumatic brain injury following the head collision in Sunday's derby match against Real Madrid. The Spaniard collided his head with Real Madrid's Aurelien Tchouameni in the final moments of the game and had to receive treatment from the medical team on the pitch.

Tests carried out on the 27-year-old determined that he had suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) with subdural haematoma. The club later on confirmed the diagnosis of the tests, as their official statement reads: "Robin Le Normand suffered a strong impact to his head in the final minutes of the Madrid derby, for which he has undergone a series of tests and an assessment by specialists who have determined that he suffered a cranioencephalic traumatism (TCE) with subdural hematoma. In the process of our player returning to action, the guidelines set out in the protocol established for this type of trauma will be followed.”

According to the NHS, The United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), subdural hematoma occurs as the "blood escapes from the blood vessel, leading to the formation of a blood clot (haematoma) that places pressure on the brain and damages." The guidelines from the NHS further indicate that "head injuries that cause subdural haematomas are often severe, such as those from a car crash, fall or violent assault. But minor bumps to the head can also lead to a subdural haematoma in a few cases.”

As Le Normand's recovery timelines are yet to be understood, the defender will miss out on matchday two of the Champions League, as Atletico travel to Benfica in on Wednesday. The team will then face Real Sociedad, Le Normand's former club, on October 6th.

 

October 1, 2024