Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has been ruled out of the Club World Cup final after tests confirmed the thigh injury he sustained against Atlante yesterday will keep him sidelined for two weeks.
The 25-year-old limped off the pitch during the second half of the 3-1 semi-final victory and had to be replaced by Bojan Krkic.
A statement on www.fcbarcelona.cat read: "At the end of the game it was felt that he may have a chance of recovering in time to appear in the final, but that has now been ruled out."
The club's medical team released a statement in Abu Dhabi today which read: "The tests carried out this afternoon confirm that the player has suffered a muscle tear in his left leg."
Iniesta now faces a race to be fit for Barca's first Primera Division game of 2010, against Villarreal at the Nou Camp on January 2.
The European champions will be aiming to lift their sixth title of 2009 against Argentinian side Estudiantes in the Club World Cup final on Saturday.
A statement on www.fcbarcelona.cat read: "At the end of the game it was felt that he may have a chance of recovering in time to appear in the final, but that has now been ruled out."
The club's medical team released a statement in Abu Dhabi today which read: "The tests carried out this afternoon confirm that the player has suffered a muscle tear in his left leg."
Iniesta now faces a race to be fit for Barca's first Primera Division game of 2010, against Villarreal at the Nou Camp on January 2.
The European champions will be aiming to lift their sixth title of 2009 against Argentinian side Estudiantes in the Club World Cup final on Saturday.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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