A Barcelona first-team star is racing against time to be fit for the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid.
Barcelona will face their arch-rivals in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday, April 26, at La Cartuja Stadium.
Press reports indicate that Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde will miss the Real Madrid match after sustaining a distal hamstring injury.
According to journalist José Álvarez, the player’s estimated absence is between 15 and 20 days, making his chances of playing against their arch-rivals highly doubtful.
The journalist explained that the Spanish player is also likely to miss the Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan, which has alarmed and concerned German coach Hansi Flick, as Balde is a key part of the German manager’s plans.
It’s worth noting that Balde has been a crucial player for Barcelona this season, having participated in 43 matches, scoring one goal and providing 10 assists.
The German coach is expected to continue relying on Gerard Martin in Balde’s absence, though he privately fears that Martin could contribute to a dramatic collapse of the Catalan team’s season.