Lille's Renato Sanches ruled out of Chelsea clash

Lille, France, March 12, 2022 (AFP) - Portugal international Renato Sanches will miss the second leg of Lille's Champions League last-16 clash with Chelsea next week due to a thigh injury, his club said Saturday.

The midfielder was forced off during the first half of Friday's 0-0 draw at home to Saint-Etienne in Ligue 1.

His absence is a big blow to the French champions, who lost the first leg against holders and Club World Cup winners Chelsea 2-0 at Stamford Bridge last month.

Lille said Sanches is expected to be sidelined for three weeks, which would also rule him out of Portugal's World Cup play-off against Turkey in Porto on March 24.

The winner of that match plays Italy or North Macedonia five days later with a place in Qatar on the line.