Javier Mascherano will miss Barcelona’s La Liga opener against Real Betis after injuring his hamstring in Wednesday’s Super Cup win against Sevilla.The Argentina international was taken off injured in the latter stages of the second half, forcing Barca to finish the game with 10 men. The club later confirmed he will be sidelined for the next week.In a brief statement the club wrote: ‘Javier Mascherano has a hamstring strain in his right leg and will be out for a week.’Barca will hope to have him back for their trip to Athletic Bilbao on Aug. 28.With Jeremy Mathieu also sidelined with an injury, Samuel Umtiti is likely to start alongside Gerard Pique when Luis Enrique’s side get their title defence underway against Betis on Saturday.The French defender made his debut against Sevilla, playing 90 minutes as the Blaugrana won the Super Cup for the 12th time in their history.
Carrying a 2-0 lead into the second leg, two goals from Arda Turan and a Lionel Messi header helped Barca complete a 5-0 aggregate win.