With injuries to Lionel Messi and Rafinha, with the later facing a six-month lay-off, and with the club unable to register summer signing Arda Turan until their transfer ban is lifted in January, Barcelona could probably have done without further fitness issues to their starting lineup.
Worry was that the Blaugrana would struggle for form in the absence of La Pulga, as witnessed in their Champions League encounter with Bayer Leverkusen, despite their hard-fought 2-1 win at Camp Nou.
Now the Catalan giants have been rocked with another injury to an integral figure of the club’s squad. Captain Andres Iniesta picked up a knock in Tuesday’s Champions League victory, which forced him off the pitch after 60 minutes.
The club’s official website revealed that the diagnosis was a hamstring injury to his right leg, with the medical release stating that the Spaniard’s “recovery will dictate his return to training”.
Although no return date was set in the club's medical release, Spanish publication SPORT report that 31-year-old could miss up to four weeks of action.
"The injury to Iniesta brought everyone down, first for the player himself but also because it’s almost a joke at this stage," manager Luis Enrique revealed about the wear that Iniesta's injury inflicted on the team's morale.
"It’s another handicap but we’ll show that we’re competitive. My players deserve a huge amount of credit for turning around a very dificult situation."
The Furia Roja ace will join team-mates Lionel Messi, Rafinha, Thomas Vermaelen, Adriano, and Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo on the sidelines.
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Luckily for Luis Enrique’s men, Barcelona will enter a two-week break after the next round of La Liga fixtures, from October 3 until October 17.
On the downside, the Blaugrana will have to do without their influential midfielder for Saturday’s all-important trip to Sevilla.
