Milan (AFP)
Argentinian Juventus striker Paulo Dybala is uncertain for the Champions League round of 16 second leg against Lyon on August 7 in Turin, as his club confirmed on Monday that he had a left thigh injury.
Dybala and Brazilian right-back Danilo came off the pitch ahead of the 2-0 win against Sampdoria on Sunday night, which gave Juve their 34th Serie A title, the 9th in a row.
Juventus said Monday that the first examinations of Dybala "revealed an elongation of the rear femoral muscle of the left thigh. His state of health will be evaluated every day", adds the club, without giving details on the possible duration of recovery.
By some estimates, healing from this type of injury takes 10 to 15 days.
Dybala, 26, will therefore miss the last two Serie A matches against Cagliari and Roma this week, and he is inevitably uncertain for the match against OL where his presence would be very useful to the Italians.
Lyon had won the first leg 1-0 at Groupama Stadium, filled with thousands of French and Italian supporters, just before the containment caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Argentina international has been a key player for coach Maurizio Sarri this season, scoring 17 goals including 11 in Serie A.
"Cristiano (Ronaldo) and Dybala made the difference" this season, admitted Sarri on Sunday, "we can really thank them for this Scudetto".
As for Douglas Costa, a luxury replacement but injured in the right thigh last week, he should also miss the return match against OL.
On the other hand, Danilo, released after a head to head shock, is good for the service, all tests on the Brazilian having turned out negative.
Juventus are aiming for a third Champions League coronation, which would be the first since 1996. They have reached the final seven times, the last two in 2015 and 2017.
© 2020 AFP