Barcelona defender Eric Abidal is facing up to two months on the sidelines, the reigning La Liga champions have confirmed.

Abidal limped out of training with a left leg injury earlier today and tests have revealed that the France international has picked up an adductor problem which will rule him out of action for "six to eight weeks".

It is a big blow to Pep Guardiola who already has a depleted defence and will be without Gerard Pique, Rafael Marquez, Dani Alves and Yaya Toure for this weekend's visit to Atletico Madrid.

A statement on the Barca website read: "Eric Abidal had to pull out of training in Reus early because of a disinsertion of the adductor in the left leg.

"After medical tests which were carried out in Barcelona, the medical team confirmed that the French defender was suffering a disinsertion the adductor in the left leg.

"He will be out for between six to eight weeks."

Abidal will miss the Primera Division matches against Atletico, Malaga, Almeria, Valencia, Real Zaragoza, Osasuna, Mallorca and Athletic Bilbao as well as both legs of Barca's Champions League last-16 clash with Stuttgart.

Pique and Marquez are suspended for the trip to Atletico following their red cards against Getafe, while Alves is facing a three-week lay-off with a calf injury.

Midfielder Toure, who played in defence following Pique's early dismissal, limped off with a leg injury and is likely to be sidelined for 10-15 days.

In further bad news, Pique and Andres Iniesta also pulled out of training early today but the club have announced that in both cases it was a precautionary measure.