Athletic's Gurpegi facing six-month lay-off
Monday, October 24, 2011
Article summary
Athletic Club must make do without Carlos Gurpegi for the remainder of their Group F campaign after the midfielder sustained a serious knee injury in weekend Liga action.
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![Athletic midfielder Carlos Gurpegi has torn an anterior cruciate ligament Athletic midfielder Carlos Gurpegi has torn an anterior cruciate ligament](https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/01f6-0e7a950f5009-0e2a0fb8a715-1000/format/wide1/carlos_gurpegi_athletic_club_.jpeg?imwidth=158)
Article body
Athletic Club have lost midfielder Carlos Gurpegi for the rest of their UEFA Europa League group stage campaign after the 31-year-old tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
A half-time substitute during the 1-1 draw at Valencia CF on Sunday, Gurpegi – who had captained Athletic to a 2-1 Group F victory away to ŠK Slovan Bratislava on matchday one – lasted just 15 minutes before suffering the injury which, following surgery, can require a recovery period of about six months.
Marcelo Bielsa's side lead their UEFA Europa League section after taking seven points from three games. They next face FC Salzburg in Austria on 3 November before concluding their Group F programme against Paris Saint-Germain FC and Slovan.