Barcelona have revealed
that Carles Puyol will sit out
Sunday's crucial La Liga clash with Sevilla through injury.
The 35-year-old defender informed medical staff of a back
problem on the morning of the game at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan and has been
immediately removed from the team as a precautionary measure.
The Blaugrana captain's last-minute withdrawal adds
to the club's concerns in defence, with Jordi Alba and Javier Mascherano both
missing the trip to Andalusia through suspension.
"The player has suffered an episode of acute low back
pain and is out for the match at the Sanchez Pizjuan," read an official
statement from the club on Sunday morning.
This latest setback comes after Puyol, who has made only
three league appearances so far this season.
Ibrahim Afellay, who will take the Spaniard's place in the
18-man squad, has himself only just returned to fitness after a long-standing
thigh problem.
Barcelona are currently third in La Liga with 54 points from
22 games, three behind both Atletico and Real Madrid, both of whom played a
game more.
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