Barca lose Arthur to injury, Messi a doubt for Bilbao trip

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Barcelona midfielder Arthur Melo has been ruled out for up to a month with a hamstring injury, handing the La Liga leaders another fitness blow after Lionel Messi missed training on Friday with a thigh problem.

Barca lose Arthur to injury, Messi a doubt for Bilbao trip

(Reuters)





A statement from Barca on Friday said Brazilian Arthur, who played 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Real Madrid in a Copa del Rey semi-final first leg on Wednesday, would be out for between three and four weeks.

Arthur, who has quickly adapted to the Barca team since joining from Brazilian side Gremio last year, will miss the Cup semi-final second leg with Real on Feb. 27 and the Champions League last-16 first leg at Olympique Lyonnais on Feb. 19.

He will also be sidelined for league games against Athletic Bilbao, Real Valladolid and Sevilla and faces a battle to be fit for the league 'Clasico' away to Real Madrid on March 2.

Barca captain Messi, the league's top scorer with 21 goals, is a serious doubt for Sunday's testing trip to Athletic Bilbao after missing Friday's training session with the thigh strain which made him unable to start the Cup game against Real.

Left back Jordi Alba has already been ruled out of the game at Bilbao due to suspension and Ousmane Dembele has not yet recovered from an ankle injury.





(Reporting by Richard Martin, editing by Ed Osmond)


Share
2 min read

Published

Source: Reuters


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world