Opponent watch: Chelsea midfielder out of Barcelona clash with injury | OneFootball

In a couple of weeks, FC Barcelona will face off against Chelsea in a high-profile UEFA Champions League encounter away at Stamford Bridge.

It will be a must-win game for both teams as both Barça and Chelsea are currently 11th and 12th, respectively, in the UCL table, with seven points after four league games.

Chelsea lose midfielder to injury

Leading up to the game, though, Chelsea have been dealt a fresh injury blow as midfielder Romeo Lavia will be unavailable due to injury, reports Mundo Deportivo.

The Belgian midfielder sustained a quadriceps injury that will keep him sidelined for approximately one month.

Lavia suffered the injury last Wednesday during Chelsea’s European fixture against Qarabag in Azerbaijan, which ended in a 2–2 draw. He was forced off in the eighth minute and replaced by Moises Caicedo.

Lavia out for one month. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Medical tests have confirmed that the extent of the injury will prevent Lavia from featuring against Barcelona at Stamford Bridge later this month.

Lavia, 21, has been at Chelsea since 2023, but has been unlucky with injury problems throughout his stint, missing a total of 78 matches.

So far this season, he has only been able to play in seven games, having recently returned from another muscle injury at the end of September.

The midfield starlet will now miss another month of action and will not be available when Barcelona travel to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea.

Meanwhile, the Blues are also sweating over the availability of key player Cole Palmer, who is also recovering from an injury.