Athletic's Gurpegi facing six-month lay-off
Monday, October 24, 2011
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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 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.