Barcelona confirm extent of Dani Olmo injury ahead of season-defining fixtures | OneFootball

Barcelona have confirmed that Dani Olmo will be sidelined for "approximately three weeks", ruling him out of a crucial glut of fixtures.

Olmo lasted less than half an hour in Barcelona's 3-0 victory over Osasuna on Thursday night. That was enough time for the wriggling midfielder to score a penalty (and miss one) before he crumpled to the turf.

The La Liga leaders confirmed on Friday afternoon that, after further tests, Olmo suffered a "myofascial injury to the adductor of his right leg", sidelining him until mid-April.

As he limped off the pitch, Olmo looked visibly distressed. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick was not entirely pleased either.

The midweek fixture was hurriedly rescheduled after the tragic passing of Barcelona's club doctor Carles Minarro Garcia. The Catalan outfit and Osasuna both appealed against the new date, which came hot on the heels of March's international break.

Barcelona were without their star forward Raphinha as he had lined up against Argentina in Buenos Aires less than 48 hours earlier. Olmo had also been involved in international duty, featuring in both of Spain's Nations League fixtures against the Netherlands last week. The 26-year-old played 84 minutes just four days before starting against Osasuna.

Dani Olmo missed a penalty, scored one and got injured during a mixed evening for Barcelona against Osasuna / Soccrates Images/GettyImages

"It's not a good thing," Flick fumed after his side's 3-0 win. "It wasn't the right time for this match. After the international matches this wasn't good. We have three points more, but we paid a high price because of Dani's injury."

Barcelona face crucial fixtures in the latter stages of the Copa del Rey and Champions League over the next fortnight.

After Sunday's Catalan derby against Girona in La Liga, Barcelona travel to the capital to face Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, 2 April in a decisive Copa del Rey semi-final with the tie level after a 4-4 draw in the first leg.

Flick's side host an in-form Real Betis in the league next weekend, but most of the focus will quickly shift to the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, 9 April. If Olmo is sidelined for three or more weeks, he will miss the second leg of that European tie which is currently scheduled for 15 April.