MADRID (Reuters) - Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho will be out for two to three weeks with a thigh injury, the club said on Thursday.
The club said in a statement that "tests conducted by the player confirmed a small rupture of the biceps femoral in the left leg."
"His absence lasts two to three weeks."
While Coutinho will miss Sunday's Primera Liga match against Real Betis at Camp Nou in the 13th leg of the Primera Liga, the Catalan side may regain the services of Argentine star Lionel Messi, who has been absent for almost three weeks after a broken arm.
Coutinho, 26, is also expected to miss England's two friendly matches in England, which they have combined with Uruguay and Cameroon on November 16 and 20 in Tualia.
If he does not recover quickly, Coutinho will also miss Barcelona's match at Atletico Madrid at Wanda Metropolitano on 24, a sensitive game for Ernesto Valverde, who are hoping to tighten their grip on the top of the league, His team next to hosts PSV Eindhoven in the fifth phase of the second group of the Champions League on 28 of it.
Barcelona are the only team so far to qualify for the Champions League final with a 1-1 draw at Inter Milan on Tuesday.
