Pablo blow for Alavés
Friday, December 27, 2002
Article summary
Deportivo Alavés captain Pablo Gómez will be out of action for two months with a groin injury.
Article body
Deportivo Alavés captain Pablo Gómez will be out of action for around two months after undergoing an operation to remedy his groin injury.
Operation in Madrid
The 32-year-old Vitoria-born midfield player has missed his club's last two Primera División matches - against RCD Mallorca and RC Celta de Vigo - due to the injury, and was due to be operated on by Pedro Guillén in Madrid on Friday.
Eight games
Pablo's absence will be a major blow for Alavés coach José Manuel Esnal, as the former Rayo Vallecano and Levante UD player has been an inspirational figure at the Mendizorroza stadium this season. If all goes according to plan, Pablo will miss the next eight league games but should return in time for the visit of Real Madrid CF in March .
Relegation trouble
Alavés are currently 16th in the league standings, only three points above second-bottom RCD Espanyol, and were also knocked out of this season's UEFA Cup when they failed to emulate their final appearance of 2000/01, losing 2-1 on aggregate against Turkey's Besiktas JK in the second round.
