Espart injury leaves Flick with another Barcelona defensive problem

Barcelona will be without Xavi Espart for almost seven weeks after the defender suffered a right ankle injury during the 2-1 defeat by Real Madrid in the latest El Clasico.

The Catalan club said medical tests had confirmed damage to the joint connecting the bones of Espart’s right ankle. He is expected to miss around seven weeks while he completes treatment and rehabilitation before returning to training and competitive action.

Espart was forced off after only 29 minutes at Spotify Camp Nou following a strong challenge from Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni. The Barcelona player had already been experiencing minor discomfort in the same ankle before the match.

The injury creates another problem for Hansi Flick at right-back. Eric Garcia remains unavailable and is not expected to return before the next international break, while Jules Kounde has also been struggling with discomfort in his left ankle.

Kounde’s problem kept him out of Barcelona’s matches against Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. With his options restricted, Flick has used Alejandro Balde in the position during the team’s past two games.

The Barcelona manager has not yet given Guille Victor, who plays for the reserve team, an opportunity to fill the role.

Barcelona’s next fixture is against Deportivo Alaves at home on Saturday, 31 October 2026, before a demanding trip to Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano. They will then face Aston Villa in the Champions League.

The schedule also lists Racing Santander against Real Madrid in La Liga on 1 November 2026.

Barcelona will hope Espart’s recovery progresses quickly as they attempt to manage their growing injury problems and maintain their challenge in the coming weeks.