Larsson faces six months out

Henrik Larsson is set to miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his knee.

The Swede was stretchered off during Barcelona's 3-0 win over Real Madrid on Saturday evening.

Barca wasted little time in getting Larsson operated on and he went under the knife on Monday morning at the Asepeyo Clinic - but he will require further surgery after the full extent of the injury was revealed.

The surgeons knew of a cartilage problem before the keyhole surgery, but a tear in the anterior ligament was also discovered and that has meant a diagnosis of six months on the sidelines.

"During the examination, we observed that there could be other injuries and therefore we recommended Larsson to do a medical," Barcelona spokesman Jose Manuel Teres told Expressen 

"It showed that the cruciate ligament was partly ripped off and the doctor decided to do an arthroscopy in the left knee.

"Unfortunately, three Bracelona players have had the same injury and they have been out for five to six months."

Barca will be cursing their bad luck as Larsson is the fourth player this season to suffer knee ligament damage, following similar injuries to Gabri, Thiago Motta and Edmilson.

The 33-year-old had settled well in Catalunya since his move from Celtic in the summer, grabbing four goals in Azulgrana colours.

A date for the next operation has yet to be decided.