Barca confirm defender Vermaelen's injury

Madrid, Jan 23: FC Barcelo has said central defender Thomas Vermaelen will be out of action for two to three weeks after suffering a hamstring injury in his left leg during his football club’s 5-0 win at Betis. The Belgian will miss Barca’s league games against Alaves next weekend and the local derby away to Espanyol the following weekend. He will also be sidelined for this week’s King’s Cup quarter-fil return leg against Espanyol and for the semi-fil if Barca are able to overturn their 0-1 deficit from the first leg. Vermaelen was making his 13th appearance of the season for Barca; his best run of games without injury since joining from Arsel in 2014 and he was playing his best football since his move to Spain. IANS