24.08.2015 13:52 h

Alves sidelined, Busquets fears allayed

Barcelona are set to be without right-back Dani Alves for up to a month after the Brazilian suffered an abductor injury in the European champions' 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

"In the case of Dani Alves, the tests carried out have confirmed that the Brazilian has an abductor injury in his right leg," the club said in a statement on Monday.

Barcelona refused to state how long the 32-year-old will be sidelined, but reports in the Catalan press suggest he could miss home league games against Malaga and Levante, as well as Barca's daunting trip to Atletico Madrid on September 12.

However, fears that Sergio Busquets may have suffered a serious ankle injury as he was stretchered off at San Mames have been allayed.

"On the contrary, the tests carried out on Sergio Busquets have confirmed that the midfielder hasn't suffered any significant injury in his right ankle," the club's statement added.

The midfielder is expected to be named in Spain coach Vicente del Bosque's squad on Friday for the his side's Euro 2016 qualifiers against Slovakia and Macedonia next month.