Barcelona Confirms Star Player’s Absence Ahead of Key Matches
Barcelona has officially confirmed that one of their standout players this season will be sidelined for the crucial upcoming fixtures against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League and the highly anticipated Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid.
After narrowly defeating Leganés 1–0 at the Butarque Stadium, the Catalan club continues to push forward in the La Liga title race. Next, they’ll take on Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, holding a commanding 4–0 lead from the first leg.
Spanish newspaper AS has reported the expected recovery time for left-back Alejandro Balde, who sustained a hamstring injury during the league clash against Leganés. Medical tests confirmed the issue in his left leg, and he is expected to be out for two to three weeks.
Balde previously dealt with a similar issue in his right knee last year, which required surgery. Due to the current injury, he will miss the Champions League second leg, upcoming La Liga games versus Celta Vigo and Real Mallorca, and the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid.
Barcelona will not take any risks with Balde’s recovery, even if there’s a slight possibility of an early return. The earliest he could potentially feature again would be in the Champions League semifinals, assuming the team advances.
