Barcelona have received a major blow as reliable defender Jules Koundé is ruled out due to injury, meaning he won’t be available for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan or the upcoming El Clasico.
Koundé suffered the injury during the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan, leaving the pitch in the 42nd minute. The match, held at Barcelona’s stadium on Wednesday, ended in a 3-3 draw.
The following day, Barcelona confirmed in a statement that Koundé had suffered a hamstring injury in his left leg. The club did not specify how long his recovery would take, but Spanish media reports suggest he will be out for at least three weeks.
As a result, Koundé will definitely miss the second leg against Inter Milan on Tuesday, as well as the return El Clasico on May 11. However, he may return in time for the final two rounds of La Liga and potentially the Champions League final.
This season, Koundé has featured in 53 out of Barcelona’s 54 matches across all competitions, underscoring his importance to the team under coach Xavi. He was rested in Barcelona’s 1-0 victory over Mallorca in the last league match.
In addition to his defensive contributions, Koundé has scored four goals this season, with his most memorable being the decisive goal in extra time of the Copa del Rey final last Saturday. His strike helped Barcelona defeat Real Madrid 3-2 to secure the trophy.
Barcelona currently sit top of La Liga, four points ahead of defending champions Real Madrid, with five rounds remaining.
