Petit injury is big blow for Benfica
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Article summary
Petit has been ruled out of SL Benfica's ties against AC Milan and FC Shakhtar Donetsk with a knee ligament injury – and he could be out for six weeks.
Article body
SL Benfica have suffered a blow before their UEFA Champions League encounter with AC Milan with the news that influential midfielder Petit will be sidelined for six weeks with ligament damage to his right knee.
No surgery
The 30-year-old Portuguese international was injured during Benfica's 3-0 league victory against A. Naval 1º Maio on Saturday and he is definitely ruled out of the Group D trip to Milan on Tuesday and the visit of FC Shakhtar Donetsk a fortnight later. Petit will not undergo surgery, however, and will hope to return in time for the Matchday 3 home game against Celtic FC on 24 October.
International blow
The injury is a blow to Portugal's hopes of qualifying for UEFA EURO 2008™ too. Capped 52 times, Petit completed 90 minutes in both the recent qualifiers against Poland and Serbia, but he will sit out the tie in Azerbaijan on 13 October and possibly also the Group A match in Kazakhstan four days later. Luiz Felipe Scolari's men are third in their section, four points behind leaders Poland.
