Barcelona’s midfield maestro, Frenkie de Jong, might be sidelined for the pivotal Champions League quarter-final first leg against Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou. The Dutch international picked up a hamstring injury in late February, with initial hopes for a return post-international break. However, his recovery timeline could now extend well into April.
The Catalan giants are set for an intense period, clashing with Atletico Madrid three times in just 11 days. The first of these critical fixtures is on April 4th at the Metropolitano. Manager Hansi Flick is anxiously awaiting the return of several key players to bolster his squad for this demanding run of games, which also includes a Barcelona derby against Espanyol sandwiched between the Atletico encounters.
Frenkie de Jong’s Potential Absence from Atletico Madrid Matches
According to reports from MD, de Jong’s recuperation period may indeed stretch into April, making his participation in the initial La Liga fixture against Los Colchoneros highly unlikely. While he is expected to be fit for the match against Espanyol at Camp Nou on April 11th, his availability for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Atletico remains uncertain.
Positive Outlook for Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde
Hansi Flick also has his hopes set on the timely return of Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde. Both players sustained injuries in the same match, Barcelona’s impressive 3-0 victory over Atletico in the return leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final. Balde is projected to be back in action following the international break, while Kounde might require an additional week. Despite this, the French defender is reportedly targeting the April 8th clash against Atletico at Camp Nou for his comeback.
Another point of concern for Flick is Eric Garcia, who has seen limited minutes—just 20 in Barcelona’s last four outings—due to injury worries. The manager has been compelled to adapt his defensive line-up over the past month, seemingly settling on the pairing of Gerard Martin and Pau Cubarsi. Upon their return, Garcia, Balde, and Kounde will undoubtedly face a challenge to reclaim their starting positions.
