Vélez Sarsfield central defender Emmanuel Mammana underwent emergency surgery overnight and is currently in intensive care at the “Sanatorio de la Mujer” in Rosario. The cause of his serious clinical condition was a strong collision during the game, which occurred on Friday evening, September 11, 2026, during the Torneo Clausura match against Newell's Old Boys, played at the “Coloso Marcelo Bielsa” stadium.
A few minutes into the second half, an accidental collision with the team's goalkeeper, Tomas Marchiori, caused the 30-year-old footballer to fracture several ribs on the right side of his chest and suffer a dangerous pneumothorax.
Mammana, the dynamics of the collision and the screams of pain
The incident occurred in the 10th minute of the second half, when the score was still tied, during a Newell's attack. After a high cross towards the center of the penalty area, the Vélez goalkeeper went out to catch the ball high and, as he fell, his knee hit the right side of defender Mammana with great force.
Initially, both from the television footage and from the immediate perception of the fans in the stands, the collision appeared to be a normal contact during the game. However, the desperate gestures of the defender, who was left lying on the field unable to breathe and with visible signs of severe pain, immediately made it clear the seriousness of the situation.
En esta acción Marchiori LE QUEBRÓ accidentally 5 COSITLLAS a Mammana, y una de ellas le FORFORÓ UN PULMÓN 😳‼️ Insólito choque entre los jugadores de Vélez. pic.twitter.com/D5QXDLhLL4
— Felipe GP / GalaxiaPincha (@zuquismo) September 12, 2026
The Vélez medical staff rushed to the field and, after first aid, decided to replace him with Lisandro Magallán and immediately transport him by ambulance to a hospital facility in Rosario. Rapid surgical intervention made it possible to stabilize the condition through the insertion of a pleural drainage tube, but the severity of the trauma still requires maximum medical attention and constant monitoring.
Mammana's condition: broken ribs and punctured lung
After urgent instrumental examinations, the clinical condition of defender Mammana revealed a severe trauma to the right hemithorax, with multiple rib fractures, between the fifth and seventh ribs, as well as air accumulation in the pleural cavity, which exerted pressure on the lungs.
The surgeons of the “Sanatorio de la Mujer” were forced to intervene immediately to insert a drainage tube and avoid serious respiratory complications. The official bulletin published by the Liniers club confirmed the positive result of the operation and the “stable” health condition of the footballer, specifying that the admission to intensive therapy has been decided for preventive purposes, with continuous monitoring during the first 48 hours. Another surgical intervention in the following days to reduce and stabilize the damaged ribs is not ruled out.
