Champions League: Fresh Injury Blow To Lionel Messi's Barcelona Ahead of Juventus Clash

FC Barcelona have been struck with a new injury blow as Ousmane Dembele is likely to miss their upcoming game against Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Dembele, who came in as a substitute in Barcelona's latest 2-1 loss in La Liga, completed the game without any issue, but the club confirmed Monday that the French forward suffered a hamstring injury that could keep him out of his side's final group game of the 2020-21 Champions League.

"Tests on Sunday morning, December 6, have shown that first-team player Ousmane Dembele has a hamstring elongation. He will therefore not be considered for selection and the evolution of the injury will determine his availability. Against Cadiz, the French winger, coming off the bench, participated in his 12th game of the year and had, to that point, scored four goals, " a statement on the club's official website read.

FC Cadiz's 29-year-old forward Alvaro Gimenez put his side 1-0 up just minutes after the game kickstarted at the Estadio Ramón de Carranza in Cadiz. The hosts went into the half-time break with the lead. However, Ronald Koeman's men got the equalizer when Jordi Alba's cross was turned into his own net by Pedro Alcala. Cadiz's veteran Alvaro Negredo successfully went past Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the 63rd minute to score the winner for his side.

The loss in Cadiz on Sunday meant Lionel Messi-led Barcelona are 12 points behind 2020-21 La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid.

Dembele has been injury prone since his $157 million-transfer to Camp Nou from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2017. The 23-year-old forward missed the second half of the 2019-20 season as he underwent surgery on a more serious hamstring injury. Since the start of the ongoing campaign, Dembele has made 12 competitive appearances for Barcelona and has scored four times, including in Barcelona's away clash with Juventus.

It was earlier reported that Dembele, who had rejected a loan move to Manchester United in 2020 summer, continues to remain one of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's targets for the upcoming transfer window in January. However, with Ansu Fati out for the majority of the ongoing season, Dembele is expected to get more chances on Koeman's side.

Although Barcelona have qualified for the Champions League knockout stages, they will aim to defeat Juventus on Tuesday at home to finish as the winners of Group H.