Madrid, Feb 1 (IANS): Spanish football club Atletico Madrid has confirmed that Argentine midfielder Augusto Fernandez is suffering from a "partial tear" to a ligament in his left knee.

"The medical tests confirm that Augusto suffered a partial tear of the lateral internal ligament in his left knee," Atletico said in a statement on Sunday.

This kind of injury generally requires about a month-and-a-half of recovery time before a player can get back on the pitch, although that can vary depending on how he progresses, reports Efe.

In any event, Augusto is expected to be out for the next seven La Liga matches, along with the Champions League quarter-finals against PSV Eindhoven.

Augusto was injured during the 75th minute of Atletico's 1-3 defeat at the Camp Nou on Saturday, a match in which teammate Diego Godin also twisted ligaments in his left knee. With the loss, Atletico are in second place, three points behind league leaders Barcelona.

Atletico said Augusto, who came on board from Celta Vigo this winter to substitute Tiago Mendes, out with a broken tibia, will undergo physical therapy and rehabilitation.

"It's never nice to injure yourself but when you think that this is something more serious and they tell you it's less serious, you're happy. Now, I'm just thinking about recovering. I know I'll recover soon. ... They haven't told how long (it will take), I'll speak with the doctors about it," Augusto on Sunday said upon leaving the hospital where the tests were performed.