Andres Iniesta to miss FC Barcelona’s trip to Sporting Lisbon due to injury

Andres Iniesta will miss FC Barcelona’s UEFA Champions League encounter against Sporting Lisbon after picking up a calf injury.

FC Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta will miss Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League meeting with Sporting Lisbon, the Catalan giants confirmed on Sunday.

FC Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta suffered a calf injury during the La Liga match against Celta Vigo. (REUTERS)

Iniesta asked to be replaced early in the second-half of Barca’s 2-2 draw at home to Celta Vigo on Saturday, but he could return as early as next weekend for a testing La Liga visit to Villarreal.

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“Tests have confirmed that Andres Iniesta has a strain in the calf of his left leg. The player will be out for the next game,” Barcelona said in a statement.

Iniesta is unlikely to be the only Barca star left out for the visit of the Portuguese side with Ernesto Valverde’s men already guaranteed top spot in Group D with a game to spare.

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However, injury problems are mounting for Valverde with influential centre-back Samuel Umtiti ruled out for two months after tearing his hamstring on Saturday.