Barcelona suffered a double blow following their Copa del Rey semi-final against Atletico Madrid, with right-back Jules Kounde and left-back Alejandro Balde both picking up muscle injuries and having to leave the pitch early.
Kounde's absence is expected to last until at least the end of March, as confirmed by the club, while Balde's hamstring injury appears to be more severe, potentially sidelining him for four to six weeks. Both players are set to miss the next five matches, including the two-legged Champions League Round of 16 tie against Newcastle United and La Liga clashes with Athletic Club, Rayo Vallecano, and Sevilla.
Following these injuries, Hansi Flick is left with just five central defenders for the coming month. Alternatives include Joao Cancelo, who recently joined the full-back role, and Ronald Araujo, who has only played once since returning from his hiatus. These absences, combined with injuries to Andreas Christensen, Gavi, Robert Lewandowski, and Frenkie de Jong, place significant strain on Barcelona’s squad depth.
Flick has expressed his frustration over the injury situation and emphasized the need to coordinate with the medical staff to prevent further player unavailability.
While exact recovery times for Kounde remain uncertain, there is some optimism he may return by the next international break. Balde’s recovery may take longer, according to some reports, which indicates a potentially extended absence.
This challenging injury situation severely impacts Barcelona’s defensive stability during a critical period of the season, forcing the coaching staff to adapt their tactics and personnel choices across all competitions.
