Nicolás Otamendi, the Argentine defender who joined Benfica from Manchester City in January, has been sidelined with a knee injury that is expected to keep him out for several months.

The news comes as a blow for Benfica, who have struggled without their key defender in the league and in the Champions League. The 28-year-old was named on the bench by manager Jorge Jesus ahead of Saturday's match against Porto but did not make it onto the pitch.

Otamendi's injury is a significant setback for Benfica, who have already lost several key players due to injuries this season. However, they will hope that he can recover quickly enough to return to action soon.

The injury also means that Benfica will be looking to strengthen their defensive options in the transfer market. With Otamendi likely to miss the rest of the season, the club may need to bring in additional cover at the back.

Despite the setback, Benfica will still be hoping to finish the season strongly and secure a place in Europe's top competition next year. They will certainly need Otamendi back on the pitch if they want to achieve that goal.

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