La Liga

Villarreal's Ángel López out for six months

Villarreal will be without Ángel López for the remainder of the season after the Spanish international was ruled out for six months with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Ángel López, in his fourth campaign at Villarreal, was forced off 62 minutes into Sunday’s 4-2 defeat at Real Madrid. Subsequent scans on the 29-year-old defender’s left knee revealed the extent of the damage, prompting the club to send him for surgery.

Villarreal have since confirmed that the player, who has featured in 18 league games and six UEFA Europa League matches this term, will not be available again until next season. Villarreal face Napoli in the Europa League round of 32, with the first leg in Naples on 17 February and the return the following week.