Iniesta could be out for nearly three months
Barcelona could be without captain Andres Iniesta for the rest of the year after the midfielder sustained a knee injury in an eventful 3-2 La Liga win for the leaders at Valencia on Saturday.
The Spain international was carried off on a stretcher crying in pain following a late tackle from behind by Valencia’s Enzo Perez who escaped a yellow card.
Barca said in a statement that Iniesta injured the lateral collateral ligaments in his right knee and would undergo further tests.
According to media reports, the 32-year-old will be out for two and a half months.
Barca coach Luis Enrique shouted at Perez when Iniesta went down and criticised referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco later for not booking the Argentine midfielder.
“It was a clear foul ... and there was no yellow card,” Luis Enrique said.
“Tomorrow we’ll find out the extent of the injury but it will be a number of weeks, it’s a serious injury.”
Undiano Mallenco’s refereeing also angered Valencia.
The hosts protested against Lionel Messi’s opening goal because Luis Suarez was in an offside position and interfering with play.
BARCELONA: BARCA COACH LUIS ENRIQUE SHOUTED AT PEREZ WHEN INIESTA WENT DOWN AND CRITICISED REFEREE ALBERTO UNDIANO MALLENCO LATER FOR NOT BOOKING THE ARGENTINE MIDFIELDER.