Grim prognosis for Barça casualties

FC Barcelona confirmed today that they will be without Gabri García until the new year and Sylvinho for up to four weeks after they sustained knee injuries against Real Zaragoza last night.

Knee injuries
Defender Gabri was withdrawn after just eight minutes of last night's 4-1 win at the Camp Nou after he damaged knee ligaments after losing his footing while trying to control the ball. Scans revealed that he had completely torn the cruciate ligament and lateral internal ligament in his right knee.

Surgery required
"I must be patient and just hope that my knee makes a good recovery," the 25-year-old said on leaving the Asepeyo de Sant Cugat hospital last night. Barça's head of medical services, Jordi Ardèvol, estimated that Gabri would be out of action for a minimum of six months after surgery. His team-mate Thiago Motta travels to Colorado on Monday for an operation to correct an almost identical injury.

Sylvinho injury
Moments before Gabri was withdrawn, left-back Sylvinho left the pitch after he was injured in a clash with Zaragoza's Rubén García. The Brazilian has sustained a minor tear to the lateral internal ligament in his left knee which should heal on its own within four weeks. Sylvinho will miss Barça's UEFA Champions League matches against FC Shakhtar Donetsk and AC Milan while he recovers.