Alves injury blow for Barcelona

Barcelona right-back Dani Alves is expected to be sidelined for at least three weeks with a groin injury.

The Brazil international was injured in the first half of Sunday’s 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao in Barca’s Primera Division opener and underwent tests on Monday which revealed the extent of the damage.

A statement from Barcelona read: “In the case of Dani Alves, the results show that he has a groin strain.”

Alves will miss Brazil’s international friendlies against Costa Rica on September 5 and the United States four days later.

The 32-year-old will also sit out the Primera Division games at home to Malaga on Saturday and away to Atletico Madrid on September 12.

The good news for Barca coach Luis Enrique is that midfielder Sergio Busquets should be fit for this weekend’s encounter.

Busquets was substituted in the second half because of injury in San Mames.

“The tests performed on Sergio Busquets reveal that the midfielder has suffered a slight ankle injury but nothing important,” Barcelona said.

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