Barcelona have confirmed that defender Eric Abidal is facing up to two months on the sidelines.

Abidal limped out of training with a left leg injury on Tuesday and tests have revealed that the he has picked up an adductor problem which will rule him out of action for "six to eight weeks".

It is a big blow to Pep Guardiola, who already has a depleted defence and will be without Gerard Pique, Rafael Marquez, Dani Alves and Yaya Toure for this weekend's visit to Atletico Madrid.

Meanwhile, Rangers manager Walter Smith has refused to read too much into reports linking Madjid Bougherra with a move to Barca after claiming he is now used to the constant speculation surrounding the defender.

Bougherra has apparently been targeted by both Barca and Sevilla after impressing scouts while on international duty with Algeria at the African Nations Cup, but Smith says he is only concerned about the player's performances for Rangers.

"There seems to have been speculation surrounding him since he came here more or less," he said. "We had it last summer and in other transfer windows and he remains here. Hopefully that will be the case next year as well.

"From any player's point of view it would be nice to be linked with Barcelona and top Spanish teams. However accurate or inaccurate that is, I don't know, but the only thing that concerns us is that he stays here and plays his football and he has been doing that very well for us.

"He has actually missed quite a number of games this season through injury and then being away at the African Nations Cup. It's good to have him back and hopefully he can stay injury-free and play for us in the manner in which he has done. He has been excellent since he came to us."