Carles Puyol has already missed much of the new season because of various injuries, and his misery continues.
The FC Barcelona captain dislocated his elbow Tuesday, suffering a gruesome injury that will keep him sidelined for the next six to eight weeks.
The injury occured in the 76th minute of a UEFA Champions League game at Portugal’s Benfica. Puyol was jumping to head away a corner kick, but as he came down, his feet got tangled with an opponent’s leg.
The 34-year-old stretched his arm out to break his fall, but his body fell at an awkward angle. The force of impact bent his elbow the wrong way, and his arm popped out of the socket.
Puyol was stretchered off the field and taken to a local hospital. The awful sight upset some of his Barcelona teammates, but they composed themselves and won the game 2-0, World Soccer reports.
“It left you feeling bad,” Cesc Fabregas said. “He is a fundamental player. He is very strong. He came back from a few weeks out and is injured again. But he is the mentally strongest guy I know.”
A fractured cheekbone, knee and hamstring injuries have kept Puyol out of most of Barcelona’s games this season. He will miss Sunday’s clash with Real Madrid as well as the following six games — at the very least.
