MADRID, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Atletico Madrid are likely to be without central defender Stefan Savic for several weeks after the Montenegrin defender tore a hamstring while representing his country against Bulgaria on Friday.
Savic was forced out of the game after just 39 minutes with an injury to his left hamstring and Atletico have now published a medical report confirming he has suffered a "grade II injury in his left hamstring."
Although the club failed to specify how long Savic will be out, the extent of the injury and fact he suffered similar problems last season implies he will be sidelined for at least four weeks.
That means the defender will miss important Liga Santander matches against top-four hopefuls such as Valencia, Athletic Club Bilbao and Sevilla, as well as two Champions League group games against Bayer Leverkusen.
Savic has been a regular starter for Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone this season, partnering Jose Gimenez in the heart of the Atletico defense. His absence could now allow Mario Hermoso, who joined from Espanyol over the summer, to stake a place in the starting 11 after a slow start to his Atletico career.
