Barcelona have officially confirmed that defender Javi Espart has suffered an injury that is expected to keep him out of action for around seven weeks. The 19-year-old picked up the problem during yesterday's El Clásico against Real Madrid, leaving the pitch in the 30th minute.

In an official statement, Barcelona confirmed that medical examinations had revealed an injury to Espart's right ankle following a collision with an opposition player during the clash with Real Madrid.

The setback comes at a frustrating time for the young defender, who has enjoyed an encouraging season with the Catalan giants. Espart has made nine appearances for Barcelona this campaign, scoring twice and showing his attacking potential from the back.