Barcelona’s trip to Atletic Bilabo didn’t end well enough, as the Catalonian club was hit with a slew of injuries even before the end of the fixture. Frenkie de Jong and Pedri were pulled off the game just days before Barcelona’s Champions League showdown with Napoli.

If the goalless draw was any worry for Xavi, what transpired during the game was enough to worry as Frenkie de Jong was taken off via a medical team cart after suffering an injury in the 26th minute, with Fermin Lopez replacing him.

Twenty minutes later, Pedri also limped off in tears for Barcelona, only to be replaced by Lamine Yamal just before halftime. Netherlands international De Jong landed awkwardly as he contested for a header with Athletic Club’s Unai Gomez. 

However, Pedri’s case was a hamstring problem just before halftime. Meanwhile, both men will undergo tests with the club’s medical team to ascertain the level of injury and how long they will be out for, although they will likely miss Napoli’s visit to the Olympic stadium in nine days’ time.

Barca have now lost three of their four main midfielders to injury and may be forced to dig even deeper into their academy to find replacements. 

Barcelona still have nine days before they host Napoli, but Xavi will be forced to field a significantly weakened team if De Jong and Pedri do not recover in time.

Days back, Xavi refuted all the rumors of a possibility of him reversing his decision to leave Barcelona at the end of the season.

“As of today, nothing has changed. There is no more story than that. It all remains the same, and we focus on the next game. It’s true we’ve done well recently; I see the team training great every day, and the group of players is less tense than in the past. But tomorrow is a whole new story; here at Barcelona, you have a challenge every day. The moment of the truth this season is coming, and we feel we have been good over the last weeks.” he said.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu