Barcelona has been dealt a major blow ahead of their round-of-16 Champions League tie against Napoli. João Félix, who joined the team on loan from Atletico Madrid in August, has sprained his ankle ligaments in training. This unfortunate injury raises doubts about his availability for the first leg of the clash, which is scheduled to take place on February 21st at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples.
Sources close to the situation suggest that João Félix could be out of action for about a month. This news will be disappointing for Barcelona fans, as the Portuguese forward has been a regular feature in the team this season. In his 28 appearances for Barcelona, Félix has scored an impressive seven goals.
In addition to João Félix’s injury, Barcelona will also have to cope without Alejandro Balde for the remainder of the season. The young left-back recently underwent surgery for a hamstring injury. While Balde faces a four-month recovery period, there is still a possibility that he could represent Spain at the European Championships this summer if he is selected.
João Félix and Alejandro Balde join a growing list of absentees for Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández. The coach has already announced that he will leave the club at the end of the season, making this injury setback all the more frustrating. Among the other injured players are Gavi, who is out for the rest of the campaign with an ACL tear, and Marcos Alonso, who underwent back surgery and will be sidelined for the foreseeable future.
Despite the mounting injuries, Xavi is hopeful of having some key players back in action soon. He anticipates the return of defender Íñigo Martínez and goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen in the near future. However, Íñigo won’t be ready for the upcoming match against Osasuna on Wednesday. Xavi remains optimistic that both players will be available for the weekend clash against Alavés.
Barcelona’s recent 5-3 defeat to Villarreal highlighted their vulnerability, and these injuries only add to their challenges. Prior to the first leg against Napoli, Barcelona will face Osasuna at the Olympic Stadium and then travel to Vitoria to take on Alavés. They will have a home fixture against Granada, followed by an away game against Celta Vigo, before the highly anticipated Champions League clash with Napoli.
Barcelona’s upcoming Champions League tie against Napoli has been overshadowed by the injury setbacks to João Félix and Alejandro Balde. These absences, along with an already lengthy injury list, pose significant challenges for Xavi Hernández’s team. Barcelona’s hopes of progressing in the competition will depend on the ability of the remaining players to step up and fill the void left by the injured stars.