Injury Storm Clouds Over Barca Ahead of El Clasico

Injury Woes Ahead of the Clasico

Only 11 days remain before the highly anticipated clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu, and the Catalan club is gripped by a rising wave of injuries that has turned the international break into a nightmare for coach Hansi Flick.

According to the Spanish daily Sport, Barcelona suffered fresh blows during the latest layoff, echoing past horror stories when key players like Gavi and Lamine Yamal were struck down during breaks.

This time the hits come at an especially delicate moment, as Barça enters a two-week period with two losses already on the board—1-2 to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and 1-4 to Sevilla in La Liga—and faces two upcoming tests against Girona and Olympiakos as they strive to regain balance before the Bernabeu.

One eye remains on the medical room as eight players have yet to receive clearance to return, while Ferran Torres left with the Spain squad early due to a muscle strain in the left leg, though it is not a tear.

Torres is undergoing a specialized rehabilitation program and is expected to be ready for the Saturday clash with Girona if pain does not resurface; if it does, he could miss the Clasico altogether.

Meanwhile, Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez are close to a group return after training with teammates, and both could feature in Girona and Olympiakos fixtures as a stepping stone to full fitness for the Bernabeu.

Three players look set to be available for the Clasico—Torres, Yamal, and Lopez—while five others remain sidelined. Long-term absences include goalkeepers Juan Garcia and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and midfielder Gavi, who underwent knee arthroscopy on September 23 to treat a meniscal issue.

Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski also joined the injury list during the international window. Olmo’s comeback looks unlikely within the Clasico window, and Lewandowski has been ruled out entirely for the moment.

Olmo, who had a controversial interpretation of readiness upon arriving at the national team camp, is dealing with a muscle issue in his left leg that could keep him out for one to three weeks. Lewandowski’s problem is more definitive, sidelining him for the near term.

The biggest concern now centers on Rafinha, who has not recovered as expected from a hamstring or muscle strain and has been withdrawn from upcoming fixtures as a precaution, keeping the Blaugrana hopeful that the frontline quartet can be rebuilt before the big one.

As a result, Barça seems set to approach the Clasico with a casualty list that includes at least four influential names in defense and attack, while trusting Yamal, Lopez, and Torres to shoulder the load alongside a rebalanced midfield and defense. Flick faces a delicate balancing act: get players match-fit without risking new injuries as they navigate a pivotal phase of the season.

The club’s leadership and supporters alike will be watching closely over the next few days, hoping the returning trio can quickly integrate and minimize disruption to a squad that has shown flashes of quality but has struggled with consistency and defensive solidity this term.

Ultimately, the next two fixtures against Girona and Olympiakos will serve as a crucial test bed for tactical tweaks and player sharpness, with the hope that the core group can be ready to tackle Real Madrid in a Clasico that could shape the rest of the campaign. If all goes well, Barça’s injury crisis could give way to a late-season surge; if not, the injury cloud could overshadow what remains of their season slate.

In the eyes of fans and critics alike, Flick’s challenge is not just about assembling a healthy XI but also about rebuilding confidence and rhythm in time for a fixture that can define the trajectory of their campaign. The medical staff will play a starring role, but the players on the road back will need to deliver with pace and precision to keep Barça competitive in one of football’s most storied rivalries.

Punchline time: If Barca’s medical staff had a transfer window, they’d be negotiating with everyone—except the players, who keep negotiating their calendars with the physiotherapist. And if injuries were a sport, Barça would be world champions in bench pressing, because the bench has seen more minutes than the pitch this season. And finally, in a season of cliffhangers, remember this: the only thing louder than the Bernabeu crowd could be the groans of the physio when a hamstring sighs loudly at 40% recovery.