Barcelona said it will be without midfielder Cesc Fabregas for three weeks due to injury.

The Spanish champion said Fabregas hurt a muscle in his right thigh during training yesterday.

The Spain international is the latest Barcelona player to succumb to injury with midfielder Andres Iniesta and forward Alexis Sanchez already missing. Iniesta trained with Barcelona on Friday but is unlikely to return for today's league match at Sporting Gijon.

Fabregas has been an integral player in coach Pep Guardiola's team since joining from Arsenal in August, helping the club to the Spanish Supercup on his debut. The 24-year-old player has scored four goals from seven appearances and has linked particularly well with Lionel Messi.