Football
ESPN staff 10y

Atletico Madrid striker Mario Mandzukic has surgery on broken nose

Atletico Madrid have confirmed on their official website that striker Mario Mandzukic has successfully undergone surgery on his broken nose.

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#INSERT type:image caption:Mandzukic is expected to miss Atletico Madrid's next two league matches after fracturing his nose. END#

Mandzukic, 28, suffered the injury when he was caught by the elbow of Pajtim Kasami in the third minute of Atletico's 3-2 Champions League defeat to Olympiakos on Tuesday but played on with nasal plugs and managed to get on the scoresheet with a first-half header.

The Croatia international, who was scored three times since signing from Bayern Munich in the summer, underwent an operation at Majadahonda's FREMAP clinic on Thursday morning and will remain in hospital until Friday as he requires nasal packing.

Diego Simeone is unlikely to have Mandzukic available for this Saturday's home La Liga clash against Celta Vigo though the Croatian is expected to return to training next week and should recover in time to face Juventus in the Rojiblancos' second Champions League Group A fixture on Oct 1.

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