barca injuries suffering

Barça lose Xavi for two weeks

FC Barcelona have suffered another blow with the news that key midfielder Xavi will be sidelined for around 15 days through injury.

The Spain international was substituted towards the end of Sunday night’s 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid and tests on Monday revealed a thigh problem which, according to the Barca website, is likely to keep him out for around two weeks.

Losing Xavi is a further setback for Barca, who also saw midfielder Seydou Keita limp out of the Atletico match after just five minutes with a hamstring injury that will see him missing for up to four weeks.

“Keita Echography was performed today on Mali international Keita, and it has been confirmed that he has ruptured semimembranosus fibres in this right thigh. He will be sidelined for the next 3 or 4 weeks”.

Yaya Toure was already missing through injury, while another midfielder, Sergio Busquets, picked up a yellow card at the Vicente Calderon that means he will now have to serve a suspension.

With Keita and Touré injured and Sergio Busquets suspended, Barça’s woes have now been transferred from defence to midfield. Of the regular starters, only Iniesta is certain to be available for the game with Racing Santander.

Barca face league matches against Racing Santander, Malaga and Almeria in the next three weeks, as well as the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Stuttgart.