Barcelona forward Luis Suarez will be out for four months following a knee operation on Sunday.
The Uruguay striker suffered an injury to the external meniscus on his right knee and was operated on by Spanish surgeon Dr Ramon Cugat.
Suarez played the whole match as Barcelona were beaten 3-2 by Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup semi-final in Saudi Arabia on Friday.
The 32-year-old has scored 14 goals in 23 games for Barcelona this season.
Reigning La Liga champions Barcelona sit top of the Spanish top-flight, level on points with rivals Real Madrid at the halfway stage of the season.
