Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Levante v FC Barcelona - Ciutat de Valencia, Valencia, Spain - December 16, 2018 Levante's Emmanuel Boateng in action with Barcelona's Thomas Vermaelen REUTERS/Heino Kalis
MADRID, December 17 (Reuters): Thomas Vermaelen will be out a month after tearing a calf muscle, Barcelona said Monday, leaving the Spanish champions with just two fit centre-backs.
The Belgian was substituted after sustaining the injury during Barca's 5-0 win at Levante on Sunday, which sent them three points clear at the top of La Liga.
"Tests carried out on the defender show that he has torn a muscle in his right calf and will be out for around four weeks," Barcelona said in a statement.
With Samuel Umtiti taking treatment on a knee cartilage problem in Qatar, it leaves Barcelona with only Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet able to play in the heart of their defence.
