In a setback for Barcelona during their La Liga encounter with Athletic Club, both Pedri and Frenkie de Jong suffered Injury, leaving the team depleted in midfield.
How Pedri and de Jong Suffered Injury
The match began with Barcelona aiming to secure a crucial victory that could see them rise to second place in the La Liga table. However, their aspirations were dashed early on as injuries marred their performance.
The first blow came in the 25th minute when Frenkie de Jong was forced off the field due to an ankle injury sustained during an aerial duel. The Dutch midfielder had to be carried off on a stretcher, with Fermin Lopez stepping in as his replacement.
Shortly before halftime, Barcelona suffered another setback as Pedri was also substituted. The young midfielder appeared to have aggravated a hamstring injury while executing a pass to Raphinha.
“The injuries affected the team because Frenkie and Pedri are two important players for how we want to play,” Xavi said in his post-game press conference.
“Pedri’s been coming good again [after his last injury], he trained really well this week. It’s such a shame. Frenkie, too. He is heavily involved in our play. They are two big losses.”
“It doesn’t look good. We missed them today and we are going to miss them. Hopefully it’s for less time than expected.”
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Other Options Available for Barcelona
For Barcelona fans, Pedri’s injury is particularly concerning given his history of hamstring problems. The 21-year-old has already missed numerous games due to similar issues and is now facing another spell on the sidelines. The return dates are yet to be confirmed for both players as a Scan is scheduled to take place on Monday (today).
With both Pedri and De Jong sidelined, Barcelona’s midfield options are severely limited, with Oriol Romeu, Sergi Roberto, Ilkay Gundogan, and Fermin Lopez as the only fit midfielders available for selection.
The injuries to Pedri and De Jong pose a significant challenge for Barcelona, leaving manager Xavi Hernandez with a depleted squad as they continue their La Liga campaign.