Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong is set to miss the team’s next match against Athletic Bilbao after the club said he had injured the calf muscle in his right leg.
Dutch international De Jong missed Friday's 0-0 draw away to Sevilla which dented Barca's hopes of winning the Spanish title, with coach Quique Setien saying before the game he left the player out as a precaution.
The injury proved worse than feared as the club released a medical report on Sunday that said the player was unable to train although it did not say when he would be able to return.
Barcelona lead Real Madrid by three points in the standings but have played one game more than Zinedine Zidane’s side, who will go top of the table if they beat Real Sociedad later on Sunday.
Setien’s side visit struggling Celta Vigo after Tuesday’s match against Athletic and before a crunch home game against third-placed Atletico Madrid on July 1.
De Jong joined Barca from Ajax Amsterdam last year for €75 million (Dh307m) and has appeared in 27 of their 30 league games this season.
