Barcelona’s latest victory did not end exactly as Hansi Flick would have wanted, as the final stages of the clash with Sevilla brought an unexpected development that raised serious concerns over one of the team’s defensive players, just as the club was preparing to enter a lengthy international break.
The worrying moment was not related to the result itself, but to what happened to one of Barcelona’s players on the pitch. He was forced to leave the game in the second half and appeared visibly affected on the bench, before Flick revealed the extent of the setback after the final whistle.
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Hansi Flick confirmed that Andreas Christensen will be sidelined for several weeks after suffering a muscle injury during the match against Sevilla. The Barcelona coach also explained that the defender will undergo further medical tests to determine the full extent of the problem.
The Denmark international was forced to leave the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán shortly after the hour mark after feeling the problem, before appearing visibly upset while sitting on the bench.
Christensen’s injury came during a match Barcelona eventually won 3-1 against Sevilla, allowing the Catalan side to maintain their perfect start to the La Liga season with a seventh consecutive victory. The Danish defender had played an important role in the game, providing the assist for Raphinha’s equaliser before being forced off with the injury.
After Christensen’s departure, Flick brought Gerard Martín onto the pitch, while Barcelona will now have to deal with the defender’s absence in the coming weeks, particularly as the injury occurred just before a three-week international break.
The injury also means Christensen will withdraw from the Denmark squad during the upcoming international break, having been expected to feature for his national team in their next fixtures.
Although the international break gives the defender some time to recover, his absence could become a concern for Barcelona because of the club’s demanding schedule once domestic and European football resumes. Barça are set to face Getafe, Real Betis and Real Madrid in La Liga, as well as Galatasaray and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
Flick has several options to replace Christensen in defence. Gerard Martín is one of the most obvious solutions after replacing the Dane against Sevilla, while Eric García and Jules Koundé are also alternative options depending on the coach’s needs and lineup decisions.
The final length of Christensen’s absence will depend on the results of the additional medical tests he is due to undergo. Flick confirmed that more examinations will be required, while Spanish reports indicated that the defender felt pain in the back of his left thigh and needed ice applied to the affected area after being substituted.
Barcelona therefore leave the Sevilla match with another three points and an important victory, but they also lose one of their defenders for a period of time while waiting for medical tests to determine the exact length of Andreas Christensen’s absence.
