Roma defender Mehdi Benatia has suffered a thigh injury and will be sidelined for about a month.

The 26-year-old Moroccan was hurt in the final minutes of the Giallorossi’s match Cagliari, but Rudi Garcia had already completed all his substitutions so the defender was forced to stay on the pitch.

According to the club’s official website, the centre-back strained the rectus femoris muscle in his left leg and will be further evaluated next week.

This season, Benatia has been the cornerstone of what is currently the best defense in Serie A, with only 18 goals conceded.