Lopes injury shakes Lyon
Monday, November 4, 2013
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Anthony Lopes is out until the new year after fracturing vertebrae, with Maxime Gonalons and Yassine Benzia also doubts for Olympique Lyonnais's trip to HNK Rijeka.
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Olympique Lyonnais goalkeeper Anthony Lopes will not play again in 2013 after fracturing vertebrae during Saturday's 2-0 home win against EA Guingamp, with captain Maxime Gonalons and striker Yassine Benzia also unlikely to feature against HNK Rijeka in the UEFA Europa League this week.
Lyon's first Ligue 1 victory since 22 September came at a substantial cost for 23-year-old goalkeeper Lopes, with the Portuguese custodian replaced by debutant Mathieu Gorgelin 32 minutes into the match. Scans showed that Lopes has damaged two vertebrae in his lower back and will be sidelined until 2014. It is a significant headache for OL given that their nominal first-choice keeper Rémy Vercoutre remains absent with a cruciate ligament injury, though he has returned to action with the reserve team.
Midfielder Gonalons was also taken off during the Guingamp game with a sprained knee and is rated doubtful to travel to Croatia for Thursday's rematch with Rijeka. Meanwhile, forward Benzia damaged his cheekbone in a reserve fixture, with a decision to be made over whether the French Under-21 international requires surgery to solve the problem. Lyon top UEFA Europa League Group I following a 1-0 win against Rijeka on matchday three.
