👀 Was his injury real? Zavala back in Colo Colo training

After the tumultuous conclusion of the Serie Río de la Plata, Cristián Zavala has returned to training with Colo Colo at the Estadio Monumental. According to journalist Rodrigo Gómez, the 26-year-old winger was present on the pitch alongside the rest of his teammates, partially dispelling initial doubts about a serious injury. His presence at practice brings some relief to Fernando Ortiz’s coaching staff, especially after the alarming images of him lying on the grass following the penalty shootout against Peñarol.

The origin of the physical discomfort

The problem for the attacker began during the match against the Uruguayan side, when he felt pain in his right knee. Despite the discomfort, Zavala decided to be the team’s sixth penalty taker, executing a controversial “Panenka”-style penalty that was saved by goalkeeper Washington Aguerre. It was precisely in the moment after the kick that the player collapsed, citing a worsening of the pain in the same leg, which sparked a wave of criticism and speculation about his health.

Preliminary diagnosis and waiting times

The first reports indicate that the player may have suffered a contusion to the kneecap of his right knee. Although he has already rejoined training, the “Popular’s” medical staff is awaiting definitive tests to rule out any internal complications. Depending on how he progresses, this type of injury usually requires at least a couple of weeks to recover, so the coaching staff will assess his availability day by day for upcoming friendlies and the start of official competition.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

📸 NORBERTO DUARTE - AFP or licensors