Barcelona footballer Iniesta out for six to eight weeks

Barcelona's Andres Iniesta is stretchered off after suffering an injury during the La Liga tie against Valencia on Saturday. Pic/AFP

Madrid: Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta will be out for between six and eight weeks, the Spanish champions confirmed on Saturday after he suffered knee ligament damage in a 3-2 win at Valencia.

Iniesta was stretchered from the field after just 14 minutes, but fears he could be sidelined for months were eased by tests. "After the first diagnosis carried out, the tests in Barcelona have shown the extent of the injury," Barca said in a statement. "The time out is between six and eight weeks."

Iniesta could now return in time to face Real Madrid in the first El Clasico of the season on December 3.

However, he will miss Barca's Champions League trips to Man City and Celtic next month. Barca had confirmed Iniesta had injured the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee.