Barca winger Dembele out for a month with torn hamstring

MADRID -- FC Barcelona confirmed on Thursday that French winger Ousmane Dembele will be out of action for three to four weeks after suffering a hamstring tear in Wednesday's Champions League home win over Olympique Lyon.

"He has torn the femoral biceps muscle in his left hamstring. This means he will be out of action for an expected three or four weeks," informed the Barcelona website.

Dembele started Wednesday's 5-1 win as a substitute after suffering a problem in the same muscle towards the end of Barca's game against Rayo Vallecano last weekend.

Despite the obvious risk, Barca coach Ernesto Valverde saw the need to use him as a second half substitute after Lyon had brought the score to 2-1 on the night on and had Barca on the back foot, just a goal from being eliminated.

Dembele's pace was vital in helping Barca regain the initiative and goals from Leo Messi and Gerard Pique made the result safe before he rounded off the night's scoring with Barca's fifth goal.

The injury means he will probably miss Liga Santander games against Betis, Espanyol, Villarreal and Atletico Madrid as well as the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, the draw for which will be made on Friday.