With Barcelona set to ramp up their La Liga title defence following November’s international break, they have been dealt a major injury blow.
The Spanish champions will be without influential midfielder Gavi for some time after the youngster sustained a serious injury on international duty.
While Barca are ready to welcome back some of their other absentees in the coming weeks, Gavi’s absence will be sorely felt in Catalonia.
Here are the latest updates on Barcelona’s current injuries.
Issue: Knee
Potential return: June 2024
In what has come as devastating news to Barcelona, Spain and Gavi, the 19-year-old is set to miss the rest of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered against Georgia in Euro 2024 qualifying. The youngster left the field in floods of tears and his worst fears have been confirmed.
Not only will Gavi be absent for the remainder of Barcelona’s season, there is also a real possibility that he misses Euro 2024 with Spain next summer.
“Gavi is broken, destroyed,” said Spain boss Luis de la Fuente. “He didn’t think these things could happen to him. When they have not happened to you before, you can think you’re not vulnerable, but we are very fragile.”
Fortunately for Barca, Pedri returned from injury just before the international break to help ease Xavi’s midfield concerns. However, Gavi remains a gargantuan absentee for the Catalan club.
Issue: Ankle
Potential return: Rayo Vallecano (A) (25/11/2023)
Gavi’s absence should also be eased by the return of Frenkie de Jong. Xavi has insisted that the midfielder is in line to return after the international break against Rayo Vallecano, although he may be gradually brought back into the starting lineup having missed two months of football.
The Dutchman has been sidelined since September with an ankle injury and has also proved a big miss for Barca. However, his return comes at a good time as the La Liga champions approach the busy winter period.
Issue: Back
Potential return: Rayo Vallecano (A) (25/11/2023)
Another potential casualty of the international break is Marc-Andre ter Stegen, the Barca goalkeeper withdrawing from Germany’s two international friendlies with a back problem. The news will have left Xavi nervous, but there are positive reports coming from the Barcelona camp.
Reportedly, Barca don’t consider Ter Stegen’s injury serious and the 31-year-old is expected to be fit to face Rayo Vallecano this coming Saturday.
Issue: Leg
Potential return: Rayo Vallecano (A) (25/11/2023)
Having picked up a muscle strain in his leg in mid-October, Sergi Roberto hasn’t been seen for Barcelona since. The 31-year-old was expected to return in early November, but has not been named in any of Xavi’s squads.
However, while no official timeframe has been put on his recovery, Roberto was only meant to miss around three to four weeks based on his initial prognosis. This means there is a decent chance that the Spaniard could make a return after the international break.
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