Barça pays dearly for the cup exit
Bad news for Flick: Duo is missing for weeks
March 4, 2026 – 4:11 p.mReading time: 1 min.
Hansi Flick doesn’t just have to complain about being eliminated from the Spanish Cup. On top of that, two players were injured and will be out for weeks.
FC Barcelona paid dearly for their dramatic semi-final exit in the Spanish Cup. Defenders Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde were injured in Tuesday evening’s 3-0 win over Atlético Madrid, which was not enough to advance after a 4-0 defeat in the first leg. Both will be out for a long time.
Koundé has suffered a muscle injury in his left thigh and will be out for an indefinite period, Barça announced on Wednesday. Balde, who replaced his injured colleague, also suffered an injury to his left thigh and will have to be sidelined for around four weeks.
This increased coach Hansi Flick’s personnel concerns in the crucial phase of the season. The former national coach currently has to do without star striker Robert Lewandowski, midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Gavi and defender Andreas Christensen.
Barça leads the Spanish league with four points ahead of arch-rivals Real Madrid twelve games before the end of the season. In the Champions League there are the round of 16 duels with Newcastle United for the German national players Nick Woltemade and Malick Thiaw (March 10th and 18th).
