Nicolás Otamendi is currently out for the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury, and he has not been able to fully participate in training sessions or matches this week.
Otamendi had been expected to return to the squad next week after being ruled out for most of last weekend's match against Benfica, but the Portuguese forward remains sidelined with a shoulder injury that will likely keep him out until at least mid-December.
The news comes as little surprise given the severity of his injury, which was revealed during his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's home game against Vitória de Guimarães.
Otamendi's absence will be particularly disappointing for the Benfica team,Primeira Liga Updates who have struggled with injuries throughout the campaign and are still looking for a replacement for their key player.
It will also be difficult for the club to replace Otamendi without a reliable substitute, especially given the current situation with other injured players such as Pedro Dias and João Felix.
However, despite the setback, Otamendi remains optimistic about his chances of returning to action soon and will continue to work closely with his coaches and medical staff to get back into shape before the end of the season.