Tearful Iniesta out for six to eight weeks

Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta will be out for between six and eight weeks, the Spanish champion confirmed on Saturday, after he suffered knee ligament damage in a 3-2 win at Valencia.

Iniesta was stretchered from the field in tears after just 14 minutes, but fears he could be sidelined for months were eased by tests upon his return to Barcelona.

“After the first diagnosis carried out at Mestalla, the tests in Barcelona have shown the extent of the injury,” Barca said in a statement.

“The time out is between six and eight weeks.”

Iniesta could now return in time to face Real Madrid in the first El Clasico of the season on Dec 3.

However, he will miss Barca’s Champions League trips to Manchester City and Celtic next month.

Barca had earlier confirmed Iniesta had injured the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee.

Coach incensed Argentine Luis Enrique was when Valencia’s midfielder Enzo Perez escaped without even a yellow card for the challenge that caused the injury.

“We saw very clearly from the tackle it was an injury, and a serious one,” said Enrique.

“We will see tomorrow, but it will be weeks. There wasn’t even a yellow card.”

Barca’s season has been plagued by injuries so far as Lionel Messi has just returned fromnearlyamonthout,whilst Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba were injured in Wednesday’s 4-0 win over Manchester City.

Messi shrugged off his recent woes from the penalty spot with a decisive 94th-minute spotkick to move Barcelona top of La Liga with a pulsating 3-2 win at Valencia on Saturday.

Messi netted twice and his opener midway through the first half was allowed to stand despite Luis Suarez straying into an offside position.

Valencia hit back with two goals in six second-half minutes through on-loan Barca winger Munir El Haddadi and Rodrigo.

Victory moved the champion a point clear of Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, who ere to face Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao respectively on Sunday.