The worrying number of matches Barcelona defender has missed through injury | OneFootball

Barcelona’s defensive headache deepened after another cruel setback involving Andreas Christensen, an incident that could quietly mark the end of his time at the club. 

During a training session ahead of the match against Villarreal, the centre-back suffered an awkward twist to his left knee. 

Medical tests later confirmed a partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament, a diagnosis that, while stopping short of surgery, still carries serious consequences.

Because the ligament damage is not complete, Christensen will follow a conservative recovery plan rather than go under the knife. 

Even so, the estimated rehabilitation period of three to four months effectively rules him out for the remainder of the season. 

In all honesty, Barcelona must now plan as if the Danish defender will not play again before the campaign concludes.

A bad history of physical issues

Christensen’s deal with Barcelona expires at the end of the season, and the club had already made it clear internally that a renewal was not a priority. 

While Christensen still had some hope of extending his stay, this setback all but erases any remaining optimism. 

There is talk within the club of a possible one-year extension on reduced wages, but at this stage, it remains a theoretical option rather than a concrete plan.

Looking back, Christensen’s Barcelona career has been a constant battle against his own body. Since arriving on a free transfer from Chelsea, consistency has been elusive. 

Andreas Christensen’s season is over. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

In his first season, a combination of illness, ankle trouble, and muscular issues forced him to miss 16 matches, limiting him to 32 appearances with modest returns of one goal and one assist.

The following years

The second campaign was more encouraging in terms of availability, but underlying problems began to surface. 

His Achilles tendon caused repeated discomfort, though he still managed 42 appearances across competitions. However, all this proved short-lived.

Last season became the lowest point. Chronic Achilles irritation kept him sidelined for long stretches, leading to an extraordinary total of 51 missed matches. 

A separate muscle injury added to his woes, and he featured just six times all season. 

In an effort to finally address the issue, Christensen underwent minor surgery before being cleared in January 2025.

This season offered no real reset. Between a cold and a calf strain, he had already missed six games before the ACL injury struck. 

He managed 17 appearances in total, scoring once in the Copa del Rey against Guadalajara.

In total, Christensen has spent 339 days on the sidelines during his time at the club, missing 81 matches due to injury alone. 

Unfortunately, should he not return, he will finish agonisingly close to 100 missed games.