Bisiwu injury clouds Barca Atletic’s Catalan Cup final defeat

Belgian winger Bisiwu was carried off on a stretcher after suffering a painful ankle injury during Barca Atletic’s 1-0 defeat by Sabadell in the Catalan Cup final on Wednesday.

The young Barcelona player lasted only 10 minutes at Nova Creu Alta before being forced to leave the pitch following a heavy challenge from Sabadell defender Bepa.

Bisiwu was attempting to turn away from the right-back after receiving the ball when Bepa stepped directly on the back of his left heel. The impact appeared to affect Bisiwu’s left ankle immediately, leaving him on the ground in obvious pain.

Despite the severity of the incident, the referee did not award a foul.

Bisiwu quickly called for medical assistance, and Barcelona’s medical staff decided that continuing would risk aggravating the injury. He initially left the field limping heavily and visibly distressed before needing to be carried away on a stretcher.

The scene offered little encouragement about the extent of the problem, although the full diagnosis will not be known until further tests are completed.

Bisiwu is due to undergo additional medical examinations on Thursday. Those checks are expected to provide a clearer assessment of the damage to his ankle and indicate how long he may be unavailable.

The injury is a setback for a player who had made a positive impression since arriving at Barcelona. Bisiwu joined the club’s reserve side for the opening matches of the season as he continued adapting to life at the Catalan club.

He had also attracted attention during pre-season, when he was given the opportunity to train with the first team. Bisiwu was one of the standout performers in a friendly against Basel, scoring twice and catching the coaching staff’s eye.

Those displays had raised expectations around the Belgian winger, with Barcelona relying on him to continue developing and progressing over the coming months. The club will now await Thursday’s results before determining the seriousness of his injury and the likely length of his absence.

Sabadell’s victory secured a 1-0 success in the final, but the immediate concern for Barcelona was Bisiwu’s condition after a match in which his involvement ended almost as soon as it had begun.