Santana sidelined at Fiorentina

ACF Fiorentina winger Mario Alberto Santana faces five to six weeks on the sidelines after suffering a thigh strain during the UEFA Cup first round win against FC Groningen.

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Santana injured his right leg after coming on as a substitute in the 1-1 second-leg draw (2-2 on aggregate) with the Dutch club, which preceded Fiorentina's victory in a penalty shoot-out on home soil. The 25-year-old Argentinian international will therefore be unavailable for the first two dates of UEFA Cup group stage matches, on 25 October and 8 November. Fiorentina will learn their opponents and fixture schedule after Tuesday's group stage draw. Santana, signed from US Città di Palermo in 2006, has made five Serie A appearances for the Florence team this season.