Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta will miss two weeks while defender Jeremy Mathieu will likely be out for three after the two suffered injuries on Sunday during the club's 2-0 Spanish Super Cup win away to Sevilla.
Mathieu pulled his hamstring and was taken off in the 27th minute, before midfielder Iniesta joined him on the treatment table shortly afterwards, following a strong challenge from Sevilla defender Mariano in the 36th minute.
There were initial concerns at the club that Iniesta had damaged his knee ligaments, but tests on Monday showed the injury was a knee bruise and not as serious as feared.
The 32-year-old will miss the second leg of the Super Cup at Camp Nou on Wednesday and the La Liga opener against Real Betis on Saturday, but could return for the trip to Athletic Bilbao later this month.
Medical report on injuries to Mathieu and Iniesta: https://t.co/DdPfoyjMV3 pic.twitter.com/DqcNXroNWw
- FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 15, 2016
"Although their timetable for return will depend upon how both football players heal, the time [Iniesta] will be out will be two weeks while [Mathieu] will be around three," the club said in a statement.
The club statement said that studies were done on both players to determine the exact nature of their injuries.
"In the case of Iniesta, the study shows that he has a strain in the ligament of his right knee," the statement said.
"Mathieu has a right hamstring injury and will be out approximately there weeks, although his return will depend on how it heals," the statement said.
Mathieu, meanwhile, who was replaced by Lucas Digne in the 27th minute, will be sidelined until after the international break at the beginning of September.
It's the latest in a string of injuries for the 32-year-old, who missed Euro 2016 with a calf injury after he had previously made quick comeback from a meniscus problem.
Despite losing both players to injury before the break, goals from Luis Suarez and Munir El Haddadi helped Barca to a 2-0 win against Sevilla.