Barcelona fans had barely caught their breath after their last European test when the team suffered another blow, disrupting their plans at one of the most crucial stages of the season, especially with the congested fixture schedule and the pressure of competitions both domestically and in Europe.
Anxiety began to creep into the club’s corridors in the hours immediately following the last match, as one of their key players missed training, sparking speculation about the nature of the problem and its impact on the coaching staff’s plans for the upcoming period.
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As time passed, the picture gradually became clearer after one of the midfielders underwent thorough medical examinations this morning at the training ground, revealing unwelcome news for both the coaching staff and the fans.
FC Barcelona officially announced that Pedri suffered a hamstring injury in his right leg during the match against Slavia Prague, confirming that his absence will last for a full month, a further blow to both the player and the team.
This is Pedri’s third injury since the start of the season, having already missed five matches due to two different muscle injuries, in addition to one match in which he suffered from calf pain, reflecting his ongoing struggles with physical conditioning this season.
Pedri’s absence will force Hansi Flick to reshuffle his plans, as he is expected to be without one of his key midfielders for at least seven matches across La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Champions League, with the possibility of that number rising to nine depending on the team’s progress in European competition.
Barcelona will be without Pedri for matches against Oviedo, Copenhagen, Elche, Albacete, Real Mallorca, Girona, and Levante, as well as the first leg of the Copa del Rey preliminary round, scheduled for February 10–12.
There are also growing concerns within the club that Pedri could miss the first leg of the Champions League play-off round if Barcelona fails to qualify for the quarter-finals, a scenario that could significantly complicate the team’s European campaign.
Pedri had recently returned to the starting lineup in four of the last five official matches after recovering from a previous muscle injury, before his physical struggles resurfaced. He also missed the Champions League matches against Club Brugge and Chelsea, which ended in a draw and a loss, respectively.
This is another addition to Barcelona’s injury list this season, presenting the coaching staff with a real challenge in finding quick solutions at a time when the team cannot afford any more absences or a loss of balance in midfield.
