Barcelona suffered another blow during the derby against Espanyol after defender Gerard Martín sustained a sudden injury in the first half.
The player felt pain in his right leg in the 36th minute during a solo run before collapsing to the ground with a calf injury. This sparked concern among the coaching staff, especially with the crucial Champions League match against Atlético Madrid looming.
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Despite the quick intervention of the medical staff, Martín managed to finish the first half with obvious difficulty before coach Hansi Flick decided to substitute him at halftime as a precautionary measure to avoid further injury.
Martín is expected to undergo thorough medical tests to determine the extent of the injury and the potential length of his absence, as the coaching staff fear losing a key player before the highly anticipated second leg.
The player’s situation is particularly critical given the defensive absences, especially with Pau Cubarsí confirmed to be suspended. This presents the coaching staff with a real challenge in reorganizing the back line before the decisive match.
