Barcelona captain Gerard Piqué is facing another spell on the sidelines after spraining a ligament in his right knee, the club said Thursday.
Piqué sustained the injury in the team's 3-0 win over Sevilla in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday. The defender scored four minutes into second-half stoppage time to force extra time and help the team advance to the final. He was limping in the final minutes but finished the game at the Camp Nou Stadium.
Barcelona said tests conducted on Thursday showed that Piqué has “a sprain in the internal lateral ligament of his right knee.”
Barcelona's Gerard Pique, center, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the the Copa del Rey semifinal, second leg, soccer match between FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday March 3, 2021. (AP PhotoJoan Monfort)
“He is therefore unavailable and the evolution of the injury will determine when he returns,” the club said.
Spanish media said Piqué will miss at least two weeks.
Piqué has already missed several games this season because of another right knee injury.
Barcelona's Gerard Pique hugs Barcelona's head coach Ronald Koeman at the end of the the Copa del Rey semifinal, second leg, soccer match between FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday March 3, 2021. Pique scored once in Barcelona's 4-0 win. (AP PhotoJoan Monfort)
Barcelona next week will try to reverse a 4-1 deficit to Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16 of the Champions League. Piqué should be back for the Copa del Rey final, which will be played on April 17.
Piqué has played 15 games this season, scoring two goals.
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Sevilla's Ivan Rakitic vies for the ball with Barcelona's Gerard Pique, left, during the the Copa del Rey semifinal, second leg, soccer match between FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday March 3, 2021. (AP PhotoJoan Monfort)