Injured Milito to miss Barcelona closers

FC Barcelona have lost central defender Gabriel Milito for their final UEFA Champions League Group D encounters against Panathinaikos FC and FC Rubin Kazan after the 30-year-old tore a muscle in his right thigh.

The Argentinian international, who had recently recovered from a groin problem, picked up this latest knock in Barcelona's 5-1 Copa del Rey triumph against AD Ceuta and now faces up to six weeks on the sidelines.

Milito registered only his second goal in four injury-hit seasons at Barça in the round of 32 second-leg fixture on Wednesday, before being replaced by Éric Abidal towards the end of the first half.

Josep Guardiola's side hold a one-point lead over FC København at the top of the Group D standings. Victory at Panathinaikos on 24 November would confirm their place in the knockout stages.