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Luis Suarez forced off as Barcelona suffer another fitness blow after Lionel Messi injury
LUIS SUAREZ was forced off with a calf injury in Barcelona’s La Liga defeat to Athletic Bilbao on Friday night as the Catalans suffered another fitness setback after Lionel Messi’s absence.
Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao: Luis Suarez suffers calf injury
Barcelona striker Luis Suarez was forced off the pitch in the first half against Athletic Bilbao with a calf injury.
The Uruguay international asked to be substituted after picking up a muscle strain in his right leg.
It's the latest in a series of injury setbacks for Barcelona, after captain Lionel Messi was forced to miss the Catalans' opening La Liga clash.
Messi picked up a similar injury to Suarez in pre-season, and wasn't risked by Barca boss Ernesto Valverde.
Suarez could be out of action for at least a few weeks
Suarez was obviously in discomfort before asking to be replaced on 38 minutes.
He received treatment on the sidelines before the decision was made to send on Rafael Alcantara in his place.
The striker had the best chance of the half before being replaced.
He seized upon a poor back pass from Unai Lopez, before striking the post.
Suarez will be assessed after the match to reveal the full extent of the injury.
If it’s a similar injury to Messi, Suarez could be out of action for at least a few weeks.
Messi, meanwhile, missed Barcelona’s pre-season tour of the USA in early August with his injury.
He was diagnosed with a Grade 1 calf strain, and wasn’t included in Valverde’s travelling squad for the Bilbao clash.
“We are not going to take risks and less so with Leo,” said the Barcelona boss.
“He hasn't trained yet with the team and doing recovery work is not the same as working with the team.
“We will wait, but he is following a fairly good recovery process.”
The Argentine hasn’t featured in any of Barca’s pre-season matches, after returning late due to being on international duty at the Copa America.
Barcelona went on to lose 1-0 to Bilbao after Aritz Aduriz's acrobatic 89th-minute winning goal.