Sawt Falasteen - Barca's Balde to miss key games with hamstring injury

NYSE - LSE
RBGPF -0.62% 70.69 $
JRI -0.4% 12.35 $
BCC -0.03% 78.75 $
BCE 0.26% 23.46 $
RIO -1.43% 103.3 $
CMSD 0% 21.18 $
BP -0.45% 42.15 $
VOD 1% 16.04 $
RELX 0.66% 36.54 $
RYCEF -1.22% 20.5 $
GSK 1.08% 50.82 $
BTI -0.27% 56.13 $
AZN -1.12% 162.7 $
CMSC -0.09% 21.29 $
NGG -0.1% 79.35 $
Barca's Balde to miss key games with hamstring injury
Barca's Balde to miss key games with hamstring injury / Photo: LLUIS GENE - AFP

Barca's Balde to miss key games with hamstring injury

Barcelona were dealt a blow in their quadruple chase on Sunday as defender Alejandro Balde was diagnosed with a hamstring injury.

Text size:

Spain's Balde was taken off in Barca's 1-0 win at Leganes on Saturday which gave them a seven-point lead in La Liga before second-place Real Madrid visit Alaves on Sunday.

"Tests carried out on Sunday morning on the first team player Alejandro Balde confirm that he has a distal injury to his left hamstring," said Barcelona in a statement.

The Catalan giants did not specify the length of Balde's expected absence but Spanish media reports suggest he will be sidelined for three weeks.

The 21-year-old left-back will not be able to face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League quarter-final second leg on Tuesday and is a serious doubt for the Copa del Rey final with Real Madrid on April 26.

Balde will hope to return by the time Barca face arch-rivals Madrid in La Liga on May 11, or before to potentially participate in the Champions League semi-finals, should his team qualify.

Barca hold a 4-0 lead on Dortmund from the first leg.

T.Khatib--SF-PST