Injury grounds Valencia’s ‘flying winger’ Guedes
BARCELONA: Valencia will be without flying winger Goncalo Guedes for three to four weeks after he sustained a foot injury in their weekend top-of-the-table clash with Barcelona, the club said Monday.
The 20-year-old Portuguese needed an operation on the fifth metatarsal of his left foot after suffering the problem in the 1-1 La Liga draw at the Mestalla on Sunday.
“The player is already resting and will be discharged from hospital on Tuesday (yesterday),” said Valencia in a statement.
“His recovery is estimated to take between three and four weeks depending on how the situation develops.”
Guedes, on loan from Paris St Germain, has been crucial in Valencia’s climb to second in the standings, four points behind leaders Barca.
Centre back Ezequiel Garay suffered an abdominal muscle problem during Sunday’s game and the club are monitoring him ahead of the King’s Cup last 32 second leg tie at home to Real Zaragoza tomorrow, in which Valencia hold a 2-0 lead.
Meanwhile, La Liga's bottom club Deportivo Alaves sacked coach Gianni De Biasi on Monday just over two months after appointing the Italian.
Javier Cabello takes the reins for the short-term just as he did in the brief period after Argentine Luis Zubeldia was dismissed in September.
“The blue-and-whites have decided to terminate Gianni De Biasi’s contract after the latest La Liga results,” Alaves said in a statement.
“For the moment Javier Cabello will be handed the leadership of the squad.”
Former Albania coach De Biasi, 61, suffered six defeats in eight league games in charge but also earned the club their only topflight victories this season, against Levante and Espanyol.