22-year-old Chelsea forward’s return unlikely before Barcelona clash in late November | OneFootball

FC Barcelona face some tough fixtures in the UCL league phase this season, with clashes against PSG and Chelsea standing out as the highlights. Yet both of these European heavyweights are grappling with problems of their own.

At Paris Saint-Germain, injuries to Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele have disrupted Luis Enrique’s plans. Chelsea, meanwhile, have been dealt a major blow with the loss of one of their key summer signings.

As reported by Mundo Deportivo, 22-year-old English forward Liam Delap is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining an injury against Fulham. Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca confirmed that the English striker will be sidelined for between ten and twelve weeks, putting his participation in the clash against Barcelona on November 25 at Stamford Bridge in serious doubt.

“Liam will be out for between ten and twelve weeks. He still has a long way to go in his recovery,” Maresca said in his press conference ahead of Chelsea’s game against Brentford.

Delap’s absence has already forced Chelsea to rethink their squad planning, with the club cancelling the loan move of Spanish striker Marc Guiu to Sunderland in order to cover the gap.

However, for Barcelona, this does not mean smooth sailing. Injuries are part of the game, and neither PSG nor Chelsea are strangers to navigating adversity. Still, as things stand, the Catalans may be walking into these crucial encounters with their rivals weakened, even if only temporarily. That, in a league phase where margins are always razor-thin, could prove to be a subtle but decisive advantage.