Barcelona are currently hoping to win two straight La Liga titles under manager Hansi Flick. However, their ongoing quest to notch their 29th league title recently received a blow, with two key first-team players reportedly set to be out for the entirety of March.
Barcelona Set To Miss 2 Vital Starters for Rest of March
Earlier on Tuesday, Mar. 3, they failed to complete an unlikely comeback in their Copa del Rey semi-final second leg game against Atlético Madrid. Despite winning the second leg 3-0 at the Camp Nou, they lost the domestic cup semi-final 4-3 on aggregate.
The Blaugrana also lost two players to injuries during their latest 3-0 Copa del Rey triumph. Jules Koundé picked up a leg injury early in the contest before being replaced by Alejandro Balde in the 13th minute. However, Balde also suffered a suspected hamstring injury in the second half and was eventually replaced by Ronald Araujo in the 68th minute.
MORE: Ronald Araújo Insists Barcelona ‘Can Still Win’ Two Trophies This Season After Copa del Rey Exit
Now, according to Sport, Koundé is expected to be out of action for around a month. Balde, on the other hand, suffered a more serious injury, with him set to return in six weeks.
With Koundé likely to miss their next five outings in all competitions, Barcelona are likely to rely on João Cancelo as their primary right-back. They could also choose to field Eric Garcia on the right side of the four-man defense on a temporary basis due to his versatility.
Flick’s side is expected to entirely rely on Gerard Martín for their left-back duties as Balde is reportedly set to return after the end of March’s international break. They will be without both Balde and Koundé for their UEFA Champions League ties against Newcastle United and their three La Liga matches against Athletic Club, Sevilla, and Rayo Vallecano.
On the other hand, Atlético Madrid midfielder Koke has lavished special praise on Barcelona superstar Pedri following his team’s recent Copa del Rey loss at the Catalan outfit.
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“Barça are a fantastic team. The young kids are flying. Pedri, if not the best in the world, is one of the best. Pedri is a machine. We’re lucky he’s Spanish… he’s the present and future of Spain. Pedri will bring a lot of joy to Barça and the national team. Besides being a great footballer, he’s a spectacular guy,” the Los Rojiblancos captain told reporters.
Pedri, 23, has cemented himself as an indispensable starter for the Blaugrana over the past few years, thanks to his excellent passing, vision, and dribbling. He has registered two goals in 28 total matches for his side so far this campaign.
