Barcelona’s fourth injury concern leaves Hans Flick short of options for El Clasico

Barcelona are waiting to discover whether Chavi Espart will be fit to face Real Madrid on Sunday after the young defender suffered an ankle problem against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League.

Espart was substituted in the 74th minute after feeling discomfort in his ankle. The change was understood to have been precautionary, with Barcelona hopeful the issue will not prevent him from taking part in El Clasico.

His departure came as a surprise because Espart had been one of Barcelona’s most impressive players. The Catalan club were 2-1 behind at the time, but had taken control of the match and remained in contention for a comeback.

The decision was not attributed to Espart’s performance. Instead, it was made to avoid taking unnecessary risks with him before the meeting with Real Madrid. The defender was also seen having a brief conversation with a member of the medical staff immediately after leaving the pitch.

Barcelona manager Hans Flick praised Espart after the match, saying: “He played a great game, and it is incredible what he delivers every time he plays.”

Defensive absences increase Flick’s concern

The uncertainty surrounding Espart comes at a difficult time for Flick, with Barcelona already facing a shortage of defensive options.

Eric Garcia is confirmed to be unavailable for the next match, while there are serious doubts over Jules Kounde. The France international is recovering from a sprain to his left ankle and is considered more likely to miss the game than play.

Barcelona will also be without Dani Olmo after he was injured against Paris Saint-Germain, further limiting Flick’s choices before the meeting with Real Madrid.

If Espart is unable to recover in time, Flick would be left with Joao Cancelo and Alejandro Balde as his only available options for the two full-back positions, according to the report.

Balde replaced Espart during the Champions League match, although he has had limited playing time during the current season. That makes Espart’s availability particularly important to Flick’s plans for the highly anticipated fixture.

Barcelona will monitor the young defender’s condition over the coming days, hoping the ankle pain proves to be only a temporary problem. The club face Real Madrid with defensive stability a key concern, given the significance of the match and the number of players whose availability is in doubt.