FC Barcelona Injury Status: Flick Faces Growing Selection Problems
Recent medical updates from the club show injuries affecting multiple areas of the squad, from defense to attack, at a time when fixtures in La Liga and the Copa del Rey are piling up.
Defensive problems deepen
Barcelona’s latest setbacks came during the Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Atlético Madrid, where both Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde were forced to leave the pitch with injuries.
Tests carried out after the match confirmed that Kounde sustained a hamstring injury affecting the mid-section of the biceps femoris muscle in his left leg. The club said the defender’s return will depend on how he progresses during recovery.
Balde suffered a similar problem in the same leg, with Barcelona stating that the left-back has a distal biceps femoris injury. The club estimates his recovery period will be roughly four weeks.
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The double setback leaves Flick with fewer options in the full-back positions as Barcelona continue to compete on multiple fronts.
Attacking options also reduced
Barcelona’s attack has also been affected by injuries in recent weeks.
Marcus Rashford picked up a knock to his left knee during a match against Mallorca at Spotify Camp Nou. The club confirmed that the winger would miss the subsequent Copa del Rey clash with Atlético Madrid following the incident.
Striker Robert Lewandowski has also been dealing with a significant injury. According to Barcelona’s medical update, the Polish forward suffered a fracture of the left eye socket during a recent match against Villarreal, ruling him out of another encounter with Atlético Madrid.
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Lewandowski’s absence removes one of Barcelona’s most reliable goal scorers during a critical period of the campaign.
Midfield disruption
In midfield, Pedri was diagnosed with a right hamstring injury after Barcelona’s Champions League match against Slavia Prague earlier in the season.
The midfielder left the pitch in the 61st minute of that game. Barcelona eventually secured a 4-2 comeback victory in Prague, but the club later confirmed that Pedri would require roughly a month of recovery.
The injury temporarily deprived Flick of one of the team’s most influential playmakers.
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Christensen still recovering
Defender Andreas Christensen remains another long-term concern for Barcelona.
The Danish centre-back suffered a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a training session earlier in the season. The club decided to pursue a conservative treatment plan rather than immediate surgery.
Barcelona stated that Christensen’s return will depend on how his rehabilitation progresses.
The defender had already dealt with earlier fitness issues this season, including a calf problem that kept him out of several matches.
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Positive news with Raphinha return
There has at least been some positive news for the Catalan club.
Brazilian winger Raphinha recently returned to the squad after missing three matches with an injury. Barcelona confirmed he had received medical clearance and was included in the matchday squad for the La Liga fixture against Girona.
However, even with Raphinha’s return, several other players remained unavailable at that time, underlining the injury challenges facing Flick’s squad.
A challenging period ahead
With injuries affecting several key players across the pitch, Barcelona’s squad depth could be tested in the coming weeks.
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As the club continues to compete in domestic and European competitions, Flick may need to rotate carefully while waiting for injured players to return to full fitness.
Sources: FC Barcelona
