Barca lose Xavi for a fortnight

Published Feb. 15, 2010 1:34 p.m. ET

foxsports

Barcelona have suffered another blow with the news that key midfielder Xavi will be sidelined for around two weeks through injury.

The Spain international was substituted towards the end of Sunday night's 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid and tests on Monday revealed a thigh problem which, according to the Barca website, is likely to keep him out for around 15 days.

Losing Xavi is a further setback for Barca, who also saw midfielder Seydou Keita limp out of the Atletico match after just five minutes with a hamstring injury that will see him missing for up to four weeks.

Yaya Toure was already missing through injury, while another midfielder, Sergio Busquets, picked up a yellow card at the Vicente Calderon that means he will now have to serve a suspension.

Barca, whose defeat at Atletico was their first in the league this season, face league matches against Racing Santander, Malaga and Almeria in the next three weeks, as well as the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Stuttgart.