Barcelona have confirmed that France forward Ousmane Dembele will be sidelined for about five weeks with a hamstring injury.

The ex-Borussia Dortmund star suffered the muscle problem in his side’s 1-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao in the La Liga opener last weekend.

The Spanish champions released a statement on Monday, saying: “A medical examination on Ousmane Dembele has diagnosed a strain of his left hamstring and the Frenchman is set to be out for approximately five weeks as a result.”

Dembele’s injury layoff is another blow for Barca coach Ernesto Valverde after forward Luis Suarez limped off in the first half of Friday’s shock loss at the San Mames.

Lionel Messi sat out the match as he recovers from the long-term calf strain that saw him miss the club’s pre-season tour of the United States.

Barcelona host Real Betis in their next Liga game on Sunday with the champions short odds at 1.29 to pick up all three points.