FOR Barcelona coach Luis Enrique, injuries to defenders Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba took the shine off the Calatans’ 4-0 triumph over Manchester City as he now has to deal with their absence in their next Champions League match on 1 November.
Barcelona confirmed yesterday that Pique sprained a ligament in his right ankle and would be out for three weeks, while Alba has a left hamstring problem and will be sidelined for two weeks – meaning both will miss the trip to the Etihad Stadium.
“It’s always worrying when you lose players through injury,” Luis Enrique said.
There are three games remaining in the group stages and Barcelona, who have a perfect record and are five points clear at the top of Group C, will seal their place in the next round if they beat City on 1 November.
“I’m certain we will find it difficult in Manchester,” added the coach.
Despite Barcelona’s injury woes, the real battle in Group C is for second place. Pep Guardiola’s City are second with four points and Borussia Monchengladbach have three following their 2-0 win at bottom-placed Celtic, who have one point.
For Luis Enrique, the most encouraging aspect of Barca’s performance was seeing Lionel Messi complete a hat-trick in his first start following a three-week break with a groin injury.
