Madrid (Spain), Sep 13 (IANS): The fifth round of matches in La Liga looks as if it has brought a premature end to the season of two top strikers.

Real Sociedad confirmed on Monday that Nigerian forward Umar Sadiq had suffered a torn cruciate ligament in his right knee in their 2-1 defeat away to Getafe on Sunday.

Sadiq had to limp out of the game in the first half and tests showed the full extent of the injury on Monday. The 25-year-old will need an operation and is unlikely to recover before the end of the season.

Sadiq just joined Real Sociedad from Almeria for a fee of over 20 million euros at the end of August, and the forward netted his first goal for the club a week ago in their 1-1 draw at home to Atletico Madrid.

Betis also look likely to lose their forward Juan Miguel Jimenez Lopez, better known as 'Juanmi,' for a long time after he tore ligaments in his left ankle during Sunday's 1-0 win at home to Villarreal.

The 29-year-old, who scored 16 La Liga goals last season, will also probably need an operation and will certainly miss the rest of 2022 and probably the first months of 2023, reports Xinhua.

The game between Betis and Villarreal also saw Villarreal's Spanish international Gerard Moreno limp out of action with a muscle injury.

Although Moreno's injury doesn't look serious, he is a doubt for Spain's forthcoming UEFA Nations League games against Switzerland and Portugal, which will be the striker's last chance to impress coach Luis Enrique before naming his squad for the World Cup finals.