Thiago Motta will undergo a second operation on his left knee, ruling him out of Club Atlético de Madrid's final UEFA Cup group-stage match against Panathinaikos FC on 20 December.

New year return
The 25-year-old originally suffered a knee injury in September, returning to the side after surgery for last month's Primera División draw with UD Almería. However, after the UEFA Cup Group B victory at FC København on 5 December, the problem flared up again and the Brazilian midfielder is now expected to be sidelined for ten days. Motta is unlikely to play again before the new year, when Atlético will still be in UEFA Cup contention having qualified for the last 32 with a game to spare.