Football
Barcelona faces major injury setback ahead of champions league fixtures
FC Barcelona has confirmed a major setback with Dani Olmo set to miss four to five weeks due to a hamstring injury. The 26-year-old, who rejoined Barcelona this summer from RB Leipzig for over $60 million, has been a key player since his return.
Olmo has made an immediate impact, scoring in several crucial matches, including a dramatic comeback against Rayo Vallecano and a standout goal in the Catalan derby against Girona.
His performances have helped Barcelona maintain a lead at the top of La Liga.
However, Olmo’s impressive run was cut short on Sunday when he suffered an injury in the Girona match, forcing him off the pitch in the 73rd minute.
Initial scans indicated a hamstring problem, which has now been confirmed as a more serious issue affecting the femoral biceps of his right thigh.
READ ALSO: Transfer rumors: Galatasaray eyes Casemiro, Barcelona pursues Mastantuono
As a result, Olmo will miss several key fixtures, including Barcelona’s Champions League opener against AS Monaco on Thursday and La Liga games against Villarreal, Getafe, Osasuna, and Alaves.
He may also be unavailable for matches against Young Boys, Sevilla, and Bayern Munich, with a potential return in time for the El Clasico against Real Madrid on October 27.
Barcelona will need to adjust their squad and tactics in Olmo’s absence, impacting their plans for both domestic and European competitions.
Coming off the bench and changing the game at Rayo Vallecano when the Blaugrana was losing 1-0, while also scoring the winner in a 2-1 comeback, he also netted in the 7-0 drubbing of Real Valladolid at the Montjuic Stadium ahead of the international break.
Olmo’s best goal yet in a Barca shirt came in the Catalan derby at Girona on Sunday. Barely two minutes after the interval, the Euro 2024 champion with Spain smashed a volley past Paulo Gazzaniga from the tightest of angles to make it 3-0 in an eventual 4-1 romp that left Hansi Flick’s men four points clear of bitter rivals Real Madrid at the top of the table.
READ ALSO: Barcelona sack coach Xavi after trophyless season
Sadly for all concerned, however, Olmo’s afternoon was finished less than a quarter of an hour later when he pulled up and had to be replaced by Eric Garcia.
Post-match, Flick confirmed that his attacking midfielder had suffered a knock with SPORT reporting that the first scans carried out in the locker room in Montilivi point to a hamstring injury.
On Monday, the same newspaper explained that a test later carried out at the Joan Gamper CT showed that the niggle is more serious than initially believed, with the club now confirming that Olmo will be sidelined for “approximately four to five weeks”.
“Dani Olmo has suffered an injury to the femoral biceps of his right thigh,” a short statement on the matter read, followed by the mentioned absence timeframe.
Providing Olmo is indeed out of action for over a month, he will most certainly miss Barca’s Champions League debut against AS Monaco on Thursday in addition to La Liga matches against Villarreal, Getafe, Osasuna and Alaves.
There is another UCL home meeting with Young Boys wedged between that lot on October 1, and Barca would probably be without Olmo for Sevilla on October 20 and Bayern Munich on the continent three days later.
With all this in mind, Olmo might be ready to take to the field again for a meeting with Madrid in El Clasico on the 27th.