Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has said that "it seems like a joke" that the Catalan club are picking up so many long-term injuries in such a sort space of time.

Rafinha was the first senior player to be struck down with a long-term knee problem, before Lionel Messi was ruled out for up to two months with an injury he sustained at the weekend.

Andres Iniesta also limped out of Tuesday's Champions League Group E match against Bayer Leverkusen with a hamstring problem and Enrique has expressed his disbelief at the developing situation.

"The Iniesta news saddens us, first for the player and then because it seems like a joke," AS quotes Enrique as saying.

"It's a handicap and we have to show how competitive we are. I'm happy with how the team took it and I ask for more confidence in the players. It's not a simple situation."

Claudio Bravo and Jordi Alba have also both been on the sidelines in recent weeks.