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Barcelonas Italian international fullback Gianluca Zambrotta will be out of action for around a month after tearing a muscle in his left leg, the Primera Liga side said on Sunday.

Zambrotta sustained the injury during his sides 1-0 defeat to Internacional in the final of the Club World Cup in Yokohama.

"The player will undergo further tests when the team returns to Barcelona, but it is expected he will be sidelined for approximately four weeks," the club said in a statement.

The 29-year-old Italian will be unavailable for Barcelonas final league match of the year when they host Atletico Madrid on Thursday and will also miss their opening match of 2007 against Getafe.