Injuries continue to plague Barcelona this season as Andreas Christensen has become the latest victim after suffering ankle discomfort in training.
The Danish centre-back’s participation in tonight’s game against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey remains doubtful according to several media outlets.
However, other reports claim that Christensen is determined to recover in time for the Clasico, although a starting berth is not guaranteed.
Barca can ill-afford any further injury issues as they are already without Pedri, Ousmane Dembele and Robert Lewandowski.
Christensen arrived from Chelsea last summer on a free transfer and has made a huge impact.
Having established himself as a pillar in the defence, the Dane has been instrumental in Barca’s successful run in La Liga this season – seven points clear at the top of the table.
Barca will look towards Eric Garcia or Marcos Alonso as centre-back options if Christensen fails to recover.
However, the Catalan giants have to take a leap of faith as they have been error-prone this season, and it remains doubtful whether they can fill the void.
Barca’s recent form – two consecutive defeats – will have lowered their morale.
Xavi’s side suffered Europa League elimination at the hands of Manchester United before losing against Almeria in La Liga last week.
Barca will look to replicate the Spanish Super Cup final heroics in tonight’s Clasico, but they will be up against an in-form side keen to pile further pressure on their arch-rivals.
It will be interesting to see how Barca perform at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final amid a worrying injury crisis.
