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Benfica hit with Suazo injury blow

Striker ruled out of derby and doubtful for Napoli

Before their match with Pacos de Ferreira, Benfica were handed some bad news as they released a statement indicating that the team would be without striker David Suazo for at least two weeks.

The Honduran international suffered a muscle injury in his right thigh due to a reckless tackle he suffered during Benfica’s first-leg Uefa Cup tie against Napoli last week.

Napoli’s defender, Contini, delivered a bone-crunching challenge in the second-half which went unpunished and saw Suazo hobbling and unable to come off as Benfica had used up all their substitutions at that point.

The summer loanee, who has been unable to train with the team since their arrival from Italy, underwent x-rays which confirmed the injury.

Suazo will now undergo physiotherapy to repair the muscle damage and is forced to sit out the Lisbon derby this weekend against Sporting at the Estadio da Luz.

The striker could also miss the return leg of Benfica’s Uefa Cup tie with Napoli which is also to be played at the Portuguese side’s home stadium on October 2.

Sporting trio undertaking treatment

On the other side of the barricade, Sporting are also nursing injury victims. Midfielder Izmailov, striker Derlei and defender Marco Caneira are not training with the rest of the squad as they attempt to get match fit for the keenly anticipated derby on Saturday.

Nevertheless, only the Russian is a doubt for the match although Sporting’s medical department issued a statement saying he had a better than 50% chance of recovering in time to take his place in the starting line-up.