Barcelona confirm Gerard Pique has suffered ACL knee injury
Barcelona have released a statement confirming that Gerard Pique has suffered a serious knee injury and could face up to eight months on the sidelines.
Barca's Twitter account confirmed that Pique had suffered a 'grade three' sprain in his right knee and partial injury to the anterior cruciate ligament. While they do not specify the length of time the player is expected to be out, the injury at its most severe will mean Pique is not available until the beginning of next season.
The 33-year-old was challenging with Angel Correa and the Atletico man's momentum inadvertently took him into Pique's right leg, causing it to bend backwards in an unnatural fashion.
Pique was immediately in distress and though he hobbled from the pitch his face showed that the injury was serious and could see him missing for an extended period.
It's another dreadful blow for Barcelona and boss Ronald Koeman, who now has only Clement Lenglet as a fit recognised central defender for the foreseeable future.
And Pique's problem comes in the next game after Ansu Fati was ruled out until March after suffering a similar type of knee injury in the defeat of Real Betis before the international break.
Furthermore, Sergi Roberto ruptured his thigh in the same match with Atleti and he too is expected to face a spell out of action, with Barcelona estimating that he will be unavailable for a period of two months.
Barcelona will now seemingly be forced into the transfer market in January, with Manchester City's Eric Garcia remaining a long-term target.
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