Barca defender Douglas to miss start of season with hamstring injury
Barcelona full-back Douglas will miss the start of the new season due to injury.
Douglas faces up to eight weeks on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury during the Spanish champions' defeat to Chelsea on their pre-season tour of the US on Tuesday night.
The Brazilian, who was given little playing time by coach Luis Enrique last season, was forced off with the problem during the first half of the penalty shoot-out defeat in Washington.
"He has a hamstring injury to his right leg. The estimated time for recovery is around eight weeks," Barca said in a statement.
The right-back position has been a problem for Barca and while Dani Alves has renewed his contract with the club, they have little cover.
Along with Douglas there is the versatile Adriano, who has been linked with a move to Roma while new signing Aleix Vidal will not be available until the new year. Due to a FIFA ban, Barcelona are unable to register any of their signings until the start of 2016.
Barcleona are next back in action on Sunday when they play Fiorentina.
They return to the Nou Camp for a friendly with Roma on August 5 followed by their European Supercup showdown with Sevilla three days later.
Barca then play Atletico Madrid twice in the Spanish Super Cup before kicking of their La Liga defence against the same opposition on August 23.
