Iniesta sidelined by calf strain

Barcelona (AFP) – Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta will miss Tuesday’s Champions League meeting with Sporting Lisbon, the Catalan giants confirmed on Sunday.

Iniesta asked to be replaced early in the second-half of Barca’s 2-2 draw at home to Celta Vigo on Saturday, but he could return as early as next weekend for a testing La Liga visit to Villarreal.

“Tests have confirmed that Andres Iniesta has a strain in the calf of his left leg. The player will be out for the next game,” Barcelona said in a statement.

Iniesta is unlikely to be the only Barca star left out for the visit of the Portuguese side with Ernesto Valverde’s men already guaranteed top spot in Group D with a game to spare.

However, injury problems are mounting for Valverde with influential centre-back Samuel Umtiti ruled out for two months after tearing his hamstring on Saturday.

200+ Channels With Sports & News

• Starting price: $33/mo. for fubo Latino Package
• Watch Premier League, World Cup, Euro 2024 & more
• Includes NBC, USA, FOX, ESPN, CBSSN & more

Try It Free

Live & On Demand TV Streaming

• Price: $69.99/mo. for Entertainment package
• Watch World Cup, Euro 2024 & MLS
• Includes ESPN, ESPN2, FS1 + local channels

Try It Free

Many Sports & ESPN Originals

• Price: $6.99/mo. (or get ESPN+, Hulu & Disney+ for $13.99/mo.)
• Features Bundesliga, LaLiga, Championship, & more
• Also includes daily ESPN FC news & highlights show

Browse Offers

2,000+ soccer games per year

• Price: $4.99/mo
• Features Champions League, Serie A, Europa League & NWSL
• Includes CBS, Star Trek & CBS Sports HQ

Try It Free

175 Premier League Games & PL TV

• Starting price: $4.99/mo. for Peacock Premium
• Watch 175 exclusive EPL games per season
• Includes Premier League TV channel plus movies, TV shows & more

Browse Offer