Lopez blow for Villarreal

Villarreal defender Angel Lopez will be sidelined for around six months after suffering a serious knee injury, the Primera Division outfit have announced.

The right-back was carried off on a stretcher during the second half of Sunday’s defeat to Real Madrid and it was confirmed yesterday that he had damaged the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

The 29-year-old Spain international successfully underwent surgery in Barcelona last night and is now likely to be missing until July.

Villarreal are third in the standings but are now 11 points behind second-placed Madrid following their 4-2 loss at the Bernabeu.