Coutinho could be out of Barcelona due to the meniscus surgery

will undergo arthroscopic surgery to determine the severity of his left knee surgery.

playmaker was substituted in the 66

th

minutes of a disappointing 1-1 draw against

Eibar

at the

Camp Nou

on Tuesday but was ruled out after a second-half injury.

Initially, reports suggested that Coutinho might be out of action for s long time, but the club confirmed that he suffered a meniscus injury and had to undergo an exploratory injury.

A Barcelona statement read:

"The tests carried out on the first team player Philippe Coutinho have shown that the midfielder has an injury to the lateral meniscus in his left knee. Treatment will necessitate arthroscopic surgery which will take place in the coming days."

squad are already without

Ansu Fati

,

Sergi Roberto

, and

Gerard Pique

because of injury and a long term absence for Coutinho would be another hit to Barca.

The draw with Eibar promoted Catalans to sixth place in the table, seven points behind

Atletico Madrid

and

Real Madrid

.

After the latest slip up, coach Koeman said:

"I am realistic, it will be very difficult to be champions. Nothing is impossible, but you have to acknowledge the gap. Atletico look very good to me, very strong, they don't concede many goals." 

They will start 2021 with a match against

on Sunday.

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