7M - Barcelona Midfield Blow: Frenkie de Jong Sidelined for Six Weeks

Barcelona have suffered a significant setback in their pursuit of silverware, with Frenkie de Jong ruled out for up to six weeks following a training ground injury. The Dutch international was forced to withdraw from Thursday’s session, and subsequent medical evaluations have confirmed a hamstring strain in his right leg.

This injury comes at a critical juncture for the Catalan giants. De Jong is set to miss a series of high-stakes fixtures, including the crucial Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid and the upcoming Champions League round-of-16 matches. His absence leaves a void in a midfield where he has been a mainstay this season, recording 31 appearances and maintaining an impressive 94.2% passing accuracy.

The 28-year-old had recently found his rhythm, notably scoring his first La Liga goal in over a year during the victory against Levante. While his technical prowess and ball progression will be missed, Barcelona’s medical staff expects a recovery period of approximately five to six weeks before he can return to competitive action.

Interestingly, statistics suggest that Hansi Flick’s side has remained resilient without the midfielder this term, maintaining a 100% win rate across the eight matches he has missed. Nonetheless, with elite European and domestic challenges on the horizon, the loss of De Jong’s experience and creative vision remains a major hurdle for the league leaders.