Cruz Azul’s Juan Escobar out for six months with knee injury

Cruz Azul’s Juan Escobar is out for the season after suffering from a total rupture of the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. The defender will undergo surgery in Guadalajara in the next few days, and is expected to be on the sidelines for six months. 

Escobar picked up the injury during Cruz Azul’s 2-1 victory over Queretaro on Saturday, limping off the pitch in the 53rd minute. Though he sustained the lesion in the first half, the player attempted to continue before eventually being forced off. 

This stands as Escobar’s first major injury in seven tournaments with Cruz Azul. He’s been an integral part of the team this season, starting all 11 games of the 2022 Liga MX Apertura. 

The news comes as a huge blow for Cruz Azul, forcing the team to navigate without Escobar and Ramiro Funes Mori at the same time. The Argentine defender is also out after suffering from a muscular ailment. 

Despite a strong start to the season, the team has fallen to 15th on the table with just 11 points in 11 games and a record of 3W-6L-2D. With only six games left this season, Cruz Azul must recover quickly if they want to qualify for the playoffs.