Frenkie de Jong is set for a spell on the sidelines after Barcelona confirmed he has suffered a hamstring injury in training.
The club announced that De Jong sustained an injury to the distal biceps of his right leg and is expected to be out for approximately five to six weeks.
The setback arrives at a crucial stage of the campaign, with Barcelona competing on multiple fronts domestically and in Europe.
De Jong has been a key figure this season, making 31 appearances in all competitions.
He has contributed four assists in La Liga and recently scored in the 3-0 victory over Levante.
The Dutch international has also captained the side in several recent league fixtures, underlining his importance within Hansi Flick’s structure.
His absence is particularly frustrating given that Pedri only recently returned from a second hamstring issue.
Raphinha has also just come back from a similar injury that sidelined him for more than a dozen matches earlier in the season.
Barcelona have already endured a challenging injury record this term, with multiple first-team players missing significant stretches of the campaign.
That disruption has been cited as one of the reasons behind their earlier dip in form, which included defeats to Girona in the league and Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey.
Although Barcelona remain top of La Liga, their margin over second-placed Real Madrid is slender.
De Jong’s injury means he is likely to miss the upcoming Copa del Rey semi-final second leg and both legs of the Champions League round of 16.
He is also expected to be unavailable for key league fixtures in the coming weeks as the title race intensifies.
From a tactical perspective, his absence leaves a notable gap in midfield.
De Jong’s press resistance, ball-carrying ability and capacity to cover ground make him a unique profile within Flick’s squad.
He has frequently operated as the side’s deep-lying organiser while also driving forward to break lines.
Greater responsibility will likely fall on Pedri and emerging midfielder Marc Bernal in his absence.
The coming weeks will test squad depth and tactical adaptability as Flick navigates a demanding run of fixtures without one of his most influential players.
