Injury update: Gerard Pique will be out for three weeks

Leading into the game against Athletic Bilbao, there were reports of the club doctors asking Gerard Pique to take a rest and avoid a potential injury. The Spaniard did not fancy the idea and continued to train normally.

Yet, hours before the game, a flurry of reports indicated that all was fine with the veteran centre-back and pushed the news of him starting the vital encounter.

Indeed, Pique did start on the night alongside Eric Garcia. However, the tall defender went down late in the first half and signalled to the bench that he could not continue.

According to reports from AS, tests revealed that the Barcelona No.3 suffered an elongation of the Soleus muscle of his left leg. The injury will see Pique out of action for between three weeks and a month.

This comes as a blow to Ronald Koeman’s plans. The injury bandwagon for the season has already begun, and it is only Matchday 2.

Heading into the game against Getafe at home next week, the Dutch manager finds himself in a tricky situation. Eric Garcia is suspended, though anyway unavailable because of his two-week holiday. Gerard Pique is now unavailable for selection too.

All signs indicate that Ronald Araujo and Clement Lenglet will start against Michel’s team on Sunday. The Uruguayan provided a reassuring display at San Mames, including a controversially disallowed goal. However, how his French partner fares remain to be seen.

This means that Barcelona cannot count on their world cup winning centre-back until the end of the international break. His availability after that too will be subject to his recovery.