Pepe leaves hospital

Real Madrid defender Pepe has been given the green light to return home after spending the night under observation in hospital because of a head injury suffered in the match against Valencia. The Portugal international clashed heads with team-mate Iker Casillas in last night's Primera Division opener against Valencia and had to be replaced at half-time before being taken to hospital. Pepe has today been the all-clear to go home and will now be monitored by his club's medical team, with doctor Carlos Diez saying on www.realmadrid.com: "Normally when there's a head injury, we, as a matter of protocol, have the player under observation for 24 hours. "We took him to hospital where he underwent the corresponding tests, which have come out negative. "He has spent the night under observation and everything is fine and we've decided, under the control of the Real Madrid medical team, that the player can be discharged from hospital without any problem." It remains to be seen if Pepe will be fit to play for Madrid in Thursday night's Spanish Supercopa first leg against Barcelona at the Nou Camp. FIFA