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5 months ago
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Barcelona have been hit hard by a spate of injuries to key players, reducing the squad to bare bones in recent weeks.
Following Ferran Torres’s injury against Osasuna last night, as many as nine Barcelona players are currently out on the sidelines due to physical problems, with some being ruled out for the remainder of the season while a few are closing in on their comebacks.
A report from Mundo Deportivo has provided an update on the conditions of the nine injured Barça stars and when they could be expected to return to action.
Ferran Torres
Torres went down on the pitch just four minutes into the game against Osasuna and tests have revealed that the Spaniard has suffered a hamstring injury. It is likely to sideline him for at least a month.
As such, Ferran is expected to miss matches against Alaves, Granada, Celta Vigo, and Getafe in La Liga and the UCL Ro16 first-leg tie vs Napoli. His return, then, would likely be pencilled for the match against Athletic Club on March 3.
Joao Felix
Joao Felix hurt himself during the training session earlier this week in the buildup to the Osasuna match. Tests confirmed that the Portuguese forward had suffered an ankle injury.
Felix will be out for a few weeks but could arrive for the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Napoli, which will be played on February 21.
Sergi Roberto
Another training casualty, Roberto suffered an Achilles tendon injury last week, which led to him missing the game against Villarreal and then last night’s contest versus Osasuna as well.
The Barcelona captain is ruled out of the weekend’s trip to Vitoria to face Deportivo Alaves too. His return is likely to take place against Granada (Feb 11) or Celta Vigo (Feb 17).
Alejandro Balde
After suffering a hamstring injury during the Copa del Rey quarter-final against Athletic Club last month, Alejandro Balde was forced to undergo surgery to address the problem.
As such, the left-back is out for at least four months, meaning he will not be playing again for Barcelona this season. His involvement in the Euros is also a major doubt, but there is a chance he might be fit for the Paris Olympic Games.
Raphinha and Balde are injured. (Photo by JOSEP LAGO/AFP via Getty Images)Raphinha
The 27-year-old Brazilian winger suffered an injury to his left thigh during the Spanish Super Cup semi-finals against Osasuna in Saudi Arabia almost a month ago.
Raphinha is in the third of his four-week recovery timeline and is expected to miss the upcoming games against Alaves and Granada. The match versus Celta Vigo on February 17 is earmarked for his comeback.
Inigo Martinez
Just after making a comeback from injury, Inigo Martinez once again got sidelined during the Copa del Rey clash against UD Barbastro in early January.
The muscular injury meant the veteran defender was expected to be out for at least a month. Recently, he has resumed group training and could be in the squad to face Alaves this weekend.
Marcos Alonso
The veteran left-back has not played for Barcelona since November due to a back problem. After having initially opted for conservative treatment, Marcos Alonso decided to undergo surgery and was operated on in early January.
A recovery timeline of a month and a half was talked of for Alonso and he still has three weeks left. As such, he is expected to miss the games against Alaves, Granada, Celta Vigo, Napoli, and Getafe with a return against Athletic Club in early March a possibility.
Gavi
While on international duty in November, Gavi suffered a serious knee injury – an ACL rupture to be precise – forcing him to undergo surgery. The Spanish midfield prodigy is out for the remainder of the season.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen
The German international has been out since November due to a chronic back issue that required him to undergo surgery. Ter Stegen, though, is in the final stage of his recovery and has returned to training on the pitch.
The idea is for him to be back in action possibly against Granada in La Liga in ten days’ time.
