Juventus defender Martin Caceres will be sidelined for at least a month after suffering a thigh injury in a 3-2 Serie A win over Roma, the Italian league champions announced.
Caceres was forced off late in the first half and replaced by Angelo Ogbonna after pulling up holding the back of his left thigh in Sunday’s bad-tempered clash in Turin.
After undergoing tests, the Uruguayan international was diagnosed with “a first-second degree tear of the semitendinosus muscle”, according to Juventus in a club statement.
It added: “He is expected to be out of action for approximately four weeks.”
Caceres is set to miss upcoming Champions League games against Olympiakos home and away, as well as several Serie A fixtures.
With Andrea Barzagli still recovering from injury, Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri will now be hoping Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Ogbonna – his three remaining defenders – avoid joining the casualty list.
Unbeaten Juve sit top of Serie A with a three-point lead on Roma. They next face Sassuolo in the league, a week after the international break.