Injured Afellay misses out on Super Cup

FC Barcelona will be without Ibrahim Afellay for their UEFA Super Cup contest with FC Porto later this month after sustaining a tear to his left thigh muscle in a pre-season friendly defeat by Manchester United FC.

The 25-year-old Netherlands midfielder pulled up in the 41st minute of his team's 2-1 loss in Washington DC on Saturday. Subsequent tests revealed the former PSV Eindhoven player is likely to be sidelined for up to five weeks.

Along with the Monaco showpiece – which takes place on 26 August – Afellay is also in danger of missing his country's UEFA EURO 2012 qualifiers against San Marino and Finland in early September. Josep Guardiola's Barcelona begin the defence of their UEFA Champions League title in the group stage.