Barcelona injury news: Jeremy Mathieu out for Real Madrid game as defender requires knee surgery

Barcelona have confirmed the worst thoughts over the knee injury sustained by Jeremy Mathieu on international duty after revealing that the France international will require surgery as he has torn the medial meniscus. The Catalan club have failed to set a deadline for the recovery until the defender gets the operation on Thursday (31 March) but he is expected to miss the remaining of the campaign and as well the summer Euro 2016.

The news is an inopportune blow ahead of a crucial week for the Catalans in their hopes to claim the treble. Barcelona will host Real Madrid on Saturday (2 April) for the second El Clasico of La Liga before their Champions League quarter-final first leg with Atletico Madrid three days later.

Mathieu's participation for the game with the Barcelona archenemies came under scrutiny after the 32-year-old defender suffered a knee injury during France's 4-2 victory over Russia on Tuesday night, being forced off just eight minutes later he came on for left-back Patrick Evra at half-time.

Reports in his homeland already predicted that the former Valencia star could be out for several weeks with a severe knee injury and Barcelona have now confirmed the worst through an official statement.

"FC Barcelona defender Jeremy Mathieu suffered injury on Tuesday while on international duty for France against Russia," Barcelona confirmed. "Mathieu, who came on as a second-half substitute was injured just eight minutes after coming on in his country's 4-2 win. Tests this morning confirmed that Mathieu has a torn meniscus in his right knee. The player will have an operation on Thursday by doctors Ramon Cugat and Ricard Pruna. Subsequently, the club will release a statement explaining the results of the operation."

The news come just one day after Barcelona revealed that Adriano suffered a muscle injury in his hamstring during a training session which will keep him on the side-lines for around 10 days, meaning that the Brazilian defender is also going to miss both El Clasico and the Champions League game with Atletico Madrid.

Mathieu has been an important player for Luis Enrique due to his versatility to play both in the heart of the defence and in the left back-role, having started 12 games in La Liga, six in the Copa del Rey and further three in the Champions League. The former Valencia defender, nevertheless, has been regularly used as the first-choice to cover Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano's absence ahead of Thomas Vermaelen and the out-of-favour Marc Bartra.