Barcelona have been dealt an injury blow as midfielder Marc Casado is set to miss up to eight weeks after suffering a partial tear of the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee.
The 21-year-old picked up the injury during Barcelona’s thrilling 4-2 victory over Atletico Madrid last weekend, forcing him off in the 67th minute.
The club confirmed on Tuesday that Casado will undergo conservative treatment, ruling him out for approximately two months.
Casado’s setback has also forced him to withdraw from Spain’s Nations League squad, adding to his frustration in what has been an important season for him.
The young midfielder has featured in 37 games across all competitions under Hansi Flick, playing a key role in Barcelona’s campaign.
Despite this setback, Barcelona remain in a strong position. They sit atop LaLiga on goal difference ahead of Real Madrid and have a game in hand.
The Catalan giants are still in contention for a treble, with a Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid tied at 4-4 and a Champions League quarter-final clash with Borussia Dortmund on the horizon.