Barcelona dealt blow as Olmo sidelined with calf injury

Dani Olmo has been ruled out of Barcelona’s Champions League trip to Benfica with a calf injury, the club confirmed on Sunday.

Olmo has scored six goals and registered three assists in 18 appearances since joining Barcelona from RB Leipzig in August.

He came off the bench in Barcelona’s 1-1 draw with Getafe on Saturday, coming on in the 62nd minute, creating one chance, though he was not able to help them find a winner.

“Dani Olmo has a right soleus (lower calf muscle) strain. He is out for the next match and his return will be determined by his recovery,” the club said on Sunday.

Close-season signings Olmo and Pau Victor were originally only registered for the first half of the season.

Barcelona were then blocked by LaLiga and the Spanish Football Federation from registering both players for the second half of the campaign for failing to meet Financial Fair Play rules before the December 31 deadline.

However, the club turned to the Spanish Government, which intervened as the National Sports Council reversed the decision and allowed the club to provisionally register the players until the final resolution of Barcelona’s appeal.

Barcelona, who are third in LaLiga after dropping points in their last three league games, are second in the Champions League table heading into the final two matches.