Madrid  - Barcelona's Eric Abidal will be out of action for around two months, after tearing the abductor muscle in his right thigh in Saturday's shock 2-1 defeat at home to local rivals Espanyol.

Abidal was stretchered off after just 24 minutes after a clash with Espanyol's Sergio Sanchez. A preliminary exploration by the Barca doctors suggests that he will be out for around eight or nine weeks.

Abidal, 29, will miss the upcoming Champions League round of 16 clash against Olympique Lyon, his former club.