Madrid, Sep 18 (IANS): Atletico Madrid will be without the services of striker Mario Mandzukic for at least two weeks after it was confirmed that the Croatian broke his nose during his side's 2-3 Champions League defeat to Olympiacos Tuesday.

The striker will undergo an operation to set the bone which was broken when he contested an aerial ball with Olympiacos defender Kasami, who hit him with an elbow during the jump, reports Xinhua.

He needed several minutes' attention on the field as he was bleeding heavily from the impact but continued playing until the final whistle despite ending the match with cotton wool jammed into his nose to stop bleeding. Back here Wednesday, tests proved he had suffered a fracture.

Mandzukic will miss games against Celta Vigo, Almeria and Sevilla in the La Liga but should recover for his side's home debut in this season's Champions League when Sevilla entertain Juventus in the Vicente Calderon Stadium.

Atletico do have options to cover for his absence with recent signings Raul Jimenez and Antoine Griezmann, both of whom are looking to cement their place in the side while Raul Garcia can also play in an attacking role.

Atletico are not the only Spanish side to have suffered an injury in the Champions League this week. Athletic Club Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde said, after his side's 0-0 draw at home to Shakhtar Donetsk, that forward Ibai Gomez had ended the game with a muscle problem which could be a torn hamstring.