Ibrahimovic out of Bilbao clash

Barcelona's Zlatan Ibrahimovic will miss Saturday's La Liga clash at Athletic Bilbao with a new thigh strain, the European champions said on Thursday.

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic is battling to be fit to face former club Inter

The striker damaged a left thigh muscle against Real Mallorca two weeks ago that has kept him out of the Sweden squad but tests on Thursday revealed a new injury in the same area, Barca said on their official website

The striker has netted seven La Liga goals in nine appearances for the Catalans since his big money move from Inter Milan in the summer, and has helped them to the top of the table.

Barca host Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday and then welcome Real Madrid in La Liga the following weekend. The club did not say how long the striker would be out of action.