🚑 Barça confirm it: Koundé and Balde sidelined for a month

After the tumultuous match against Atlético de Madrid , the club has released the official medical reports that confirm the worst fears for Hansi Flick . Both Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde suffer from muscle injuries in the left thigh that will keep them off the field for the next four weeks.

– Wednesday, 4 March 2026

In the case of the French player, tests have detected a middle third injury of the biceps femoris . Although the club prefers not to set fixed timelines and leaves his return dependent on his recovery, the reality is that Koundé will miss crucial matches. Not only is he out for France's friendlies in the United States, but his presence in the Champions League round of 16 against Newcastle is, as of today, practically impossible.

As for Balde , the diagnosis is somewhat more localized: a distal biceps femoris injury . The medical services have been clear in marking a recovery process of one month . This double absence leaves the team stretched thin on the flanks just when the schedule tightens with several challenging matches both in the League and Champions League.

– Wednesday, 4 March 2026

Flick's frustration in the press room was no coincidence. The German coach already warned that "it's not normal" to lose three players to injury in a single week. Now, the medical staff and physical trainers are under scrutiny, forced to find solutions for a plague that threatens to affect Barça's objectives in this crucial part of the season.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

📸 Alex Caparros - 2026 Getty Images