Atletico's Diego out with torn thigh

Atletico Madrid's Brazilian midfielder Diego has been ruled out of Thursday's UEFA Europa League clash against Serie A club Lazio after suffering a torn right thigh muscle. He left the pitch clutching his thigh during Sunday's 1-1 La Liga draw against Sporting Gijon and a subsequent MRI scan confirmed a muscle tear. "The player is out of the match against Lazio," his club said in a statement today without given details of how long he will be away from the pitch. According to sports daily Marca, the playmaker should be absent for a month, meaning he will miss Sunday's La Liga clash with Barcelona.