Barcelona have announced that Eric Abidal is set to be sidelined for six to eight weeks.
The French defender limped out of training on Tuesday morning with a leg injury and was later sent for tests.
It has been revealed that he has an adductor muscle problem and might not be able to return to action until late March or even April.
A statement on Barca's official website read: "Eric Abidal had to pull out of training in Reus early because of a disinsertion of the adductor in the left leg.
"He will be out for between six and eight weeks."
Abidal will miss several key Primera Liga matches as well as both legs of the UEFA Champions League tie against Stuttgart.
Pep Guardiola already has a depleted defence ahead of Sunday's clash with Atletico Madrid as Gerard Pique, Rafael Marquez, Dani Alves and Yaya Toure are all missing.
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