MADRID, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona's Copa del Rey defeat to Athletic Bilbao late on Wednesday night has brought further injury headaches to coach Xavi Hernandez, whose squad has already missed several key players with physical problems.

Spain international left-back Alejandro Balde had to leave the game in the 23rd minute with a hamstring injury and was replaced by 17-year-old Hector Font.

Balde looked to be in considerable pain as he left the pitch and the fear is that the injury will sideline him for at least a month. That means he will not only miss five or six La Liga games, starting with Saturday's match at home to Villarreal, but also be out for the first leg of the last-16 tie in the UEFA Champions League away to Napoli.

With Barcelona trailing Real Madrid and Girona with a big gap in La Liga and now out of the Copa del Rey, the Champions League may be their only chance of a title this season.

Andreas Christensen is also a doubt for the coming days after he had to leave the pitch in the second half of Wednesday's frantic match and was replaced by 17-year-old Pau Cubarsi.

The Danish international missed Barca's two previous matches with an Achilles heel problem and was shown in the dugout with a big ice-bag strapped about his ankle and tendon.

Central defender Ronald Araujo also finished the game with a knee problem after a challenge and admitted that he had been struggling with his knee for several weeks.

Barca already has Inigo Martinez, Marcos Alonso, Raphinha, Gavi and Marc-Andre ter Stegen out, and any further losses would be a huge blow for Xavi. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)