Growing concern at FC Barcelona over injuries after latest setbacks

There is growing concern at FC Barcelona about the number of injuries sustained by first-team players through the first two months of the season.

Within the next month, Barca will have multiple Champions League games and contest El Clásico against Real Madrid, and they’re likely going to have to do that without a number of key players.

Central defender Jules Koude and promising winger Lamine Yamal are the latest to suffer setbacks and both face time on the sidelines.

They’ll be joining the likes of Frenkie de Jong, Pedri, Raphinha, Araujo and Lewandowski, all of whom are still sidelines with their own injuries.

While Pedri is nearing a return, it looks unlikely that De Jong will return in time for the game against Real Madrid, being pictured at the weekend still wearing a protective boot on his right foot.

What’s causing the influx of injuries at Barcelona?

Sometimes you just have to accept that injuries happen, but then they start to stack up like they have at Barcelona you also have to look at any underlying issues.

Some have pointed to the busy schedule, but many teams compete on multiple fronts.

The bigger reason may come down to the financial situation at Barcelona not allowing Xavi to carry the size of the squad that many top teams do, which in turn doesn’t allow for as much rotation.

Right now, Barcelona are playing with a 19-man first-team squad, lower than last season and lower than a lot of teams in football.

When you put a lot of minutes on players in the twilight of their careers like Lewandowski and young players like Pedri and Yamal, eventually they’re likely to break down.

Right now Barca have a couple of weeks before their clash with Real Madrid, but the initial diagnosis means that only Pedri and Raphinha have a chance to be ready for that game, and both will be coming in having missed significant time.

Not the ideal time to be facing the league leaders.