ZCZC
BSP-16
FBL-ESP-LIGA-BARCELONA-SUAREZ
Barcelona confirm Suarez suffered leg injury in La Liga opener
MADRID, Aug 17, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Barcelona striker Luis Suarez suffered a
right leg injury during his side’s defeat at Athletic Bilbao in Friday’s La
Liga opener, the Spanish champions have confirmed.
Suarez joins Lionel Messi on the sidelines after hobbling off in the 37th
minute at San Mames, leaving Barca without their two premium strikers.
Messi sustained a calf injury in training earlier this month and was not
deemed ready for the match.
Barcelona did not reveal how long Suarez would be out of action for,
saying on Saturday he had a “right leg” injury and that his availability
depended on his recovery.
The Uruguayan was replaced in the central striker’s role by new signing
Antoine Griezmann, but Bilbao veteran Aritz Aduriz stole the show by coming
off the bench and snatching a 1-0 win with a spectacular scissor kick.
As well as Messi, Suarez and Griezmann, Barcelona have Ousmane Dembele as
another option in the front three while the club are negotiating with Paris
Saint-Germain over re-signing Neymar.
Philippe Coutinho, however, looks set to leave the club. Barca director
Guillermo Amor told Movistar on Friday that there was an “agreement in
principle” for the Brazilian to join Bayern Munich on loan.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1456 hrs