Barcelona defender Jeremy Mathieu out 2-3 weeks with calf injury
Barcelona defender Jeremy Mathieu is out two to three weeks with a right calf injury, the team announced Sunday.
Mathieu started and played the entirety of Barcelona's loss to Celta Vigo on Saturday. He apparently picked up the injury sometime after the game, possibly in training on Sunday.
The injury means Mathieu will miss Barcelona's Champions League match at Ajax on Wednesday and its La Liga match at Almeria on Saturday. A French international, Mathieu is likely out for France's friendly against Albania on Nov. 14 and possibly its friendly against Sweden on Nov. 18, though France's soccer federation hasn't made an announcement about Mathieu's status.
According to Barcelona, the soonest Mathieu could return would be for the club's La Liga match against Sevilla on Nov. 22.
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Mathieu, 31, is in his first season with Barcelona after spending the last five years with Valencia. He's started nine of Barclona's 10 league games and made two appearances for France this fall.
Barcelona's loss to Celta Vigo was its first home defeat of the season and dropped the team out of first place in the La Liga table. Barcelona is now fourth with 22 points, two behind leader Real Madrid.
- Ben Estes
