Barcelona’s injury crisis has deepened after Pedri suffered a distal hamstring tear that will sideline him for around a month, ruling him out of key fixtures including the Champions League clash against Chelsea.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the midfielder sustained a distal biceps femoris tear in his left thigh. The 22-year-old, who looked fatigued during the El Clasico defeat to Real Madrid, was later diagnosed following medical tests.
A club statement confirmed: “The first-team player Pedri has suffered a tear in the distal biceps femoris muscle in his left thigh. The player’s recovery will dictate his return to action.”
Pedri will miss matches against Elche, Club Brugge, Celta Vigo, Athletic Bilbao, Chelsea and possibly Atletico Madrid.
The Spaniard’s absence is a major blow for Hansi Flick, who is already without Gavi, Raphinha and Andreas Christensen. Pedri has been a key figure this season, starting all 13 games and playing more minutes than anyone else in the squad.
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The midfielder’s workload appears to have caught up with him, though the break could allow recovery after featuring in 41 consecutive games for club and country.
Pedri’s injury takes Barcelona’s casualty list to eight, including Robert Lewandowski, Dani Olmo, Joan Garcia, Gavi, Christensen and Marc-Andre ter Stegen. While Lewandowski is close to returning, the rest remain sidelined.
The situation has forced Flick to rely on young midfielders Marc Casado, Marc Bernal and Fermin Lopez, with Frenkie de Jong expected to anchor midfield. Eric Garcia could also be used in a makeshift role.
Despite the setbacks, Marcus Rashford has stepped up in recent weeks, contributing two goals and three assists in the Champions League since the PSG match.
With crucial fixtures against Elche, Brugge, Bilbao and Atletico ahead, the next few weeks could define Barcelona’s season. The club’s medical staff are taking a cautious approach with Pedri’s recovery, targeting a mid-December return if all goes well.
