BARCELONA – Barcelona's France forward Ousmane Dembele will be sidelined for about five weeks with a hamstring injury suffered in their defeat at Athletic Bilbao in the La Liga opener, the Spanish champions said on Monday.
"A medical examination on Ousmane Dembele has diagnosed a strain of his left hamstring and the Frenchman is set to be out for approximately five weeks as a result, the club said on their website.
Dembele's injury layoff is another blow for Barca coach Ernesto Valverde after forward Luis Suarez limped off in the first half of the 1-0 loss away to Bilbao on Friday.
FC Barcelona player @Dembouz has been diagnosed with a strain to his left hamstring, and is set to miss the next five weeks with the injury
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 19, 2019
Lionel Messi sat out the match as he recovers from the long-term calf strain that saw him miss the club's pre-season U.S. tour. Barca host Real Betis in their next Liga game on Sunday.