Barcelona are in recovery mode following a valiant effort at Camp Nou to defeat Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-finals. Their efforts to do so have come at a cost that could have serious ramifications for their La Liga title challenge and Champions League chances.
After the game, it was confirmed that right-back Jules Kounde would be out until at least the end of March due to a hamstring injury, which means he will miss both games against Newcastle United in the Champions League Round of 16; in La Liga, Barcelona will face Athletic Club, Rayo Vallecano, and Sevilla during that time.
Alejandro Balde’s recovery period could be extended.
Initially, it was expected that left-back Alejandro Balde would be sidelined for a similar amount of time. Balde replaced Kounde after 11 minutes, but he was forced out in tears before the 70th minute, and it now appears that his injury is more serious. According to Sport, Balde’s projected time out is five to six weeks, subject to further testing.
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That means he will most likely miss two crucial meetings in their championship defence: a trip to the Metropolitano to face Atletico Madrid again, then a home derby against Espanyol the following week. If Barcelona advances to the Champions League quarterfinals against Tottenham Hotspur or Atletico Madrid, he will miss the first leg away from home and is unlikely to return for the second leg.
Hansi Flick will have only five fit defenders for the next month because Kounde, Balde, and Andreas Christensen are all injured. Joao Cancelo appears to be preparing for a much larger role, while Ronald Araujo may be called upon more frequently. The Uruguayan has made just one start since returning from his vacation at the end of 2025, and Cancelo has only played 338 minutes for the Catalans.
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