Fans eager to see midfielder Juan Cazares face his former club, Atlético, will have to wait. The highly anticipated reunion,slated for Tuesday’s Copa Sudamericana semi-final first leg,is off the table. Cazares, 33, suffered a knee injury over the weekend during an Ecuadorian Championship match, sidelining him for his current team, Independiente del Valle. The match is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time in Sangolquí.
The news was confirmed Monday by coach javier Rabanal. The Spanish manager revealed during a press conference that diagnostic tests confirmed a knee injury for the midfielder. The declaration came as a surprise to local journalists, highlighting the unexpected nature of the setback.
This would have marked Cazares’ third possibility to play against his former team. According to Rabanal, the injury is meaningful, and Cazares is expected to be out for an extended period. This likely means he will miss the second leg of the semi-final in Belo Horizonte, scheduled for October 28.
Cazares’ Stint with Atlético
Cazares joined Atlético in early 2016 and spent over four and a half seasons with the club. For a significant period, he held the record for the most appearances by a foreign player for the Minas Gerais-based team. that distinction now belongs to Paraguayan defender Junior Alonso.
cazares’ Atlético Statistics:
- 205 matches played
- 41 goals scored
- 31 assists
- 98 wins
- 52 draws
- 55 defeats
- Title: 2017 Minas Gerais Championship
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