Argentina international Lavezzi out for a month

Argentina forward Ezequiel Lavezzi will be out for at least a month after suffering a thigh injury against Sampdoria on Sunday, his club Napoli said on Monday.

Lavezzi pulled a muscle during the first half of the match and was replaced by countryman German Denis, who went on to score the only goal of the game.

Napoli said ‘El Pocho’ – which means ‘the chubby one’ – will miss four to five weeks.

It means he will not be available for Wednesday’s Italian Cup trip to Juventus where Napoli will try to extend their 14-match unbeaten run under coach Walter Mazzarri, who has yet to taste defeat since replacing former Italy coach Roberto Donadoni in October.