Barcelona have confirmed, via theirofficial website, that defender Jeremy Mathieu will be out of action for the next three weeks after the result of scans on afoot injury on Wednesday morning.
Mathieu, who has filled an important squad role since joining Barça from Valencia in 2014, picked up a knock during this week's Catalunya Super Cup against Espanyol and now won't be back on the pitch until mid November.
The 32-year-old started inthe narrow defeat in a weakened Barça side largely made up of B team players, before being substituted after 54 minutes.
Mathieu would have been suspended for next week's Champions League game against Manchester City anyway after a needless red card in the reverse fixture at Camp Nou, but will be absent for La Liga games against Granada, Sevilla and possibly Malaga.
It comes at a bad time for the club, given the existing injury absences of Gerard Pique at the centre of the defence, and Jordi Alba on the left, both positions that Mathieu would normally cover.
The temporary shortage of defensive options could be a blessing for a handful of young players to stake their claim for a first-team place. Marlon, the Brazilian centre-back on loan from Fluminense, impressed against Espanyol after spending the season so far with Barça B.
The 21-year-old had already benefitted after joining first-team training last week.
"I feel ready, I am patient because I am young. Now I must continue working and do my job for my teammates in the reserves," he said after the local Super Cup. "Now it's time to relax before focusing on the next game."
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