Barcelona have confirmed that Jordi Alba will miss the next fortnight with a hamstring injury, while centre-back Gerard Pique is facing three weeks on the sidelines with an ankle problem.
The duo both picked up injuries in the first half of Barcelona's Champions League group match on Wednesday night, which the Spanish side won 4-0 courtesy of a hat-trick from Lionel Messi and a late Neymar strike.
An earlier statement from the Catalan giants revealed that Alba had aggravated a hamstring problem and Pique had sprained his right ankle, and now the club have revealed the extent of the damage.
"Tests realised this morning have confirmed that Pique has a sprained ankle and will be out for around three weeks. Tests realised this morning have confirmed that Alba has a hamstring strain. He will be out for approximately two weeks," explained a statement from the Spanish club.
Indeed, both defenders will miss Barcelona's La Liga trip to Valencia this weekend and the home match with basement side Granada at the end of the month.
Alba could be fit for the return group match with Man City on November 1, but Pique is not expected to return to action until Barcelona's league game with Malaga after the international break on November 19, meaning that he will also sit out Spain's next two international fixtures.
Matt Law
