Official: Barcelona confirm thigh injury to key defender; out for three weeks | OneFootball

The 3-3 draw against Inter Milan last night in the UEFA Champions League saw FC Barcelona lose one of their most important players, Jules Kounde, to an injury.

The French international started at right-back but had to be withdrawn close to half-time after he felt some discomfort, with Eric Garcia replacing him in the 42nd minute.

Now, Barcelona have confirmed that Kounde has suffered a thigh injury and will be sidelined, although the statement from the club does not specify a recovery timeline for the defender.

“Tests carried out this morning have shown that the first team player Jules Kounde has a distal injury to the biceps femoris of the left thigh. The return to the team will be decided based on his progress,” the statement read.

The nature of the injury suggests that Kounde could be out for a period of three weeks, confirms Javi Miguel of AS.

As such, the 26-year-old is now set to miss Saturday’s game vs Real Valladolid and the second leg of the UCL semi-final against Inter Milan as well as the Clasico vs Real Madrid on May 11.

The defender is also expected to be out of the derby against RCD Espanyol and the subsequent La Liga fixture vs Villarreal.