Barcelona's Mascherano a major doubt for PSG clash

Dom Farrell

Barcelona's Mascherano a major doubt for PSG clash image

Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano has suffered an injury to his left thigh, the La Liga champions have confirmed.

Mascherano was introduced as a 62nd-minute substitute in place of Denis Suarez during Tuesday's hard-fought 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey.

Barca to appeal Suarez red card

Barca prevailed 3-2 on aggregate in the semi-final tie but ended the 90 minutes at Camp Nou with nine men after Sergi Roberto and Luis Suarez were sent off.

Argentina international Mascherano completed the match but was in discomfort at the final whistle.

"The FC Barcelona medical staff have confirmed after tests carried out on Javier Mascherano that the first team player has a left thigh injury," a club statement read.  "His return to action will depend on his recovery."

Although Barcelona did not put a timescale on Mascherano's recovery, a report by Mundo Deportivo said he could face two to three weeks on the sidelines – an absence that would rule him out of next Tuesday's Champions League last-16 trip to Paris Saint-Germain.

Dom Farrell

Dom Farrell Photo

Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.