Spain : Primera Liga injured & suspended list (with statistics)

Midfielder Santi Cazorla is set to be sidelined for six weeks after a double injury blow. The 26-year-old Spain international underwent the operation on his hernia, repairing a problem that has nagged him since the start of the season. He was already sidelined by a muscle tear in his right thigh. Cazorla who has scored three goals from 14 appearances as Villarreal have struggled, sitting 10th in the Primera Division.

The Spanish football federation's appeals committee have upheld the two-match ban given to Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo for his sending off in last weekend's Primera Division match with Malaga. The Portuguese ace, who scored both goals in a 2-0 win at the Bernabeu, was shown a straight red card in the 70th minute after his swinging elbow caught Patrick Mtiliga in the face, leaving the Denmark defender with a broken nose. Ronaldo will now sit out Real's next two fixtures against Deportivo La Coruna and Espanyol.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been suspended for two matches by the Spanish football federation for his sending-off in last weekend's 2-0 Primera Division win over Malaga. The Portuguese international scored both goals in Sunday's match but was then shown a straight red card in the 70th minute for elbowing Malaga's Patrick Mtiliga in the face. Mtiliga suffered a broken nose in the clash and has been ordered to rest for a week.

Although Ronaldo has scored 15 goals in 16 games for Real since leaving Manchester United for €94m in the summer, it was his second dismissal of the season. He was also sent off in a 4-2 win over Almeria in December for kicking out at an opponent. Real Madrid are likely to appeal the decision but if that is rejected Ronaldo will miss Saturday's trip to Deportivo La Coruna and the home game against Espanyol the following weekend.

Valladolid have been dealt an injury blow with the news that goalkeeper Jacobo Sanz will be out of action for at least two months after undergoing emergency surgery. The 26-year-old was feeling unwell throughout Monday and was rushed to hospital by club doctors where he was swiftly operated on to remove a blockage in his intestines. Jacobo has made only seven appearances this season after a knee injury sidelined him in November to lose his place to Justo Villar.

Brazilian defender Filipe Luis will miss the rest of the season after picking up a horror injury in Deportivo La Coruna's 3-1 win over Athletic Bilbao. The 24-year-old beat visiting goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz to the ball to open the scoring in the 49th minute but got injured when his leg was caught under Iraizoz as they fell to the ground. Filipe suffered a fractured fibula, a sprained ankle and a number of torn ligaments and is now out for at least six months.

Mahamadou Diarra has returned to Real Madrid after Mali's exit from the African Nations Cup in Angola earlier this week. However, the midfielder will be sidelined for two weeks with a knee injury. Real Madrid say Diarra returned with pain in his right knee, and scans revealed it is inflamed and contains fluid. Diarra has made seven appearances for the Spanish giants this season.

Defender Abdoulay Konko will be sidelined for at least four weeks after suffering a groin injury during Sevilla's 4-0 defeat to Barcelona last weekend. The 25-year-old has scored twice in 18 Primera Division and UEFA Champions League appearances this season. Fellow defender Sebastien Squillaci needs surgery on a troublesome knee problem, while Sergio Sanchez has suffered another setback in his battle with heart problems. Diego Perotti and striker Luis Fabiano also remain out of action. Frederic Kanoute is on African Nations cup duty with Mali.

Sergio Busquets will miss next weekend's Primera Division trip to Valladolid after he bruised a kidney in Barcelona's 4-0 win over Sevilla on Saturday. The Spain midfielder spent Saturday night in hospital. He was released from hospital Sunday and has been ordered to rest for one week. Busquets, 21, has been a regular under coach Pep Guardiola, making 24 appearances this season.

Real Madrid have been dealt a blow with news that Gonzalo Higuain will be out of action for the next three weeks having torn a thigh muscle. The Argentina striker scored his team's opener in last weekned's 2-0 win against Mallorca but was replaced in the second half. Higuain also leads the Spanish giants with 11 goals in the Primera Division along with two in the UEFA Champions League.

Real Madrid are also without midfielder Rafael Van der Vaart for up to three weeks with a calf injury. The Dutch international had to be replaced after only 20 minutes of Sunday's match. On a brighter note, playmaker Kaka is fully fit having struggled with a persistent groin problem for the last few months. The Brazilian returned to action at the weekend for the first time since November 29.

Defender Sebastien Squillaci is set to undergo ankle surgery which will keep him out for another two weeks at least. The France international was hurt during Sevilla's 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid on January 2. Sevilla have lost their last three league matches to sit in fifth in the Spanish league, 13 points behind leaders Barcelona.

Sevilla have been rocked by the news that defender Sergio Sanchez has been ruled out for an indefinite period due to a heart problem. The 23-year-old has been advised to stop all physical activity and must have further medical tests. Sanchez joined the club in July 2009 from Spanish rivals Espanyol. Sanchez has featured in seven league games this season with a further three appearances coming in the UEFA Champions League.

Kaka has returned to training after a month out because of a groin inury. The Brazil midfielder trained with the ball during Thursday's session and "appears to have recovered." Kaka hasn't played since Real Madrid's 1-0 loss to Barcelona in the Primera Division on November 29. The Spanish league resumes this weekend following the two-week winter break and Real play at Osasuna on Sunday. The club have not said whether Kaka will feature in that game.