Atletico's Lucas Hern�ndez diagnosed with grade II sprain to right knee

Madrid, Dec 8 (IANS) Atletico Madrid's French left-back Lucas Hernández, best known as Lucas, was diagnosed with a grade II sprain to his right knee, an injury he sustained during his team's 3-0 La Liga win over Deportivo Alaves, the Spanish football side announced Saturday.

After leaving the field in the 35th minute, the French defender underwent the needed medical check to identify the exact injury, according to Atletico's online statement, reports Efe news.

"Lucas Hernandez underwent an MRI scan after Saturday's match against Alavés that confirmed a grade II sprain of the medial collateral ligament of his right knee," the statement read. "The Frenchman is to immediately begin medical treatment and physiotherapy."

Although Atletico Madrid did not specify when Lucas would be back to action, these kinds of injuries can take up to one month of recovery, depending on each individual case.

Thus, Lucas is to miss at least the remaining three matches of Atleti in 2018: against Real Valladolid and Espanyol in La Liga, as well as versus Belgium's Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League.

The 22-year-old Lucas was injured while he was vying for the ball with Alaves' Argentine forward Jonathan Calleri while Atletico had a 1-0 advantage thanks to Nikola Kalinic's goal in the 25th minute.

Atletico is now in the second position with 28 points, on goal difference behind leader Barcelona.