Fiorentina lose Gomez to knee injury

UEFA Europa League contenders ACF Fiorentina are facing up to seven weeks without summer signing Mario Gomez after the Germany forward suffered ligament damage in his left knee in Serie A action on Sunday.

The 28-year-old, who joined the Viola from FC Bayern München, left the pitch on a stretcher after clashing with Cagliari Calcio goalkeeper Michael Agazzi early in the second half of the sides' 1-1 draw.

"Gomez sprained his knee with a partial lesion of the collateral medial ligament," read a club statement, though no estimate has been given as to the length of the forward's absence. He will certainly miss the start of the club's group stage bid, which kicks off on Thursday at home to FC Paços de Ferreira.

Meanwhile, winger Juan Cuadrado dislocated his shoulder in the same game, before subsequent scans ruled out a fracture.