Barca defender Umtiti sidelined for eight weeks

FILE PHOTO - Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - FC Barcelona vs Celta Vigo - Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain - December 2, 2017 Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti leaves the pitch after sustaining an injury REUTERS/Albert Gea

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Barcelona will be without centre back Samuel Umtiti for eight weeks, the La Liga leaders said on Saturday, after the France international tore a hamstring in the 2-2 draw with Celta Vigo, meaning he will miss the game at Real Madrid on Dec. 23.

Umtiti's injury means Barca will have to rely on the injury-prone Thomas Vermaelen to partner Gerard Pique until Javier Mascherano returns from a hamstring problem midway through December.