Injuries put Barcelona's defense in trouble

 

After confirming the injuries of Ronald Araujo, Jules Conde, and Hector Bellerin, Barcelona will play the first stage of the marathon, which includes 9 matches during the next month, with only three defenders, Pique, Eric Garcia, and Andreas Christensen, amid doubts about the right-back position with Sergi Roberto as the only option.

Barcelona suffered heavy losses during the period of international benefits, as 4 players were injured during their participation with their national teams.

In addition to Araujo and Conde, Memphis Depay suffered an injury to the biceps femoris muscle of the left thigh, and Frenkie de Jong had an elongation of the left semitendinosus.

In addition to Hector Bellerin, who suffers from a calf injury, as well as doubts about the fitness of Sergi Roberto, who missed the last 3 matches before the international break due to some pain.

Barcelona lost the most participating central defenders with coach Xavi, as Araujo played 601 minutes spread over 7 matches, and Conde 450 minutes in 5 matches.

Araujo, who underwent surgery successfully today, Wednesday, due to a dislocation of the upper right thigh tendon, will miss the 12 matches that precede the start of the World Cup.

Even though the Catalans have not announced his absence, the Uruguayan central defender is struggling to participate in the World Cup.

It seems that Conde, who suffered an injury to the biceps femoris muscle of the left thigh, will join the World Cup, but there are doubts about his catching up in the Clasico on October 16 against Real Madrid.

Before the break due to the World Cup, Barcelona will play a total of 12 matches between La Liga (8 games) and the Champions League (4 games).

In his struggle for the top spot in the local championship, strong confrontations await him, including the match against Real Madrid, the leaders of the competition, Villarreal, Athletic Bilbao, and Valencia, while he will play in Europe against Inter back and forth, and the return match against Bayern Munich on October 26.

Until Conde returns, Xavi will have 3 defenders in the first team: Pique, who played 134 minutes in the first 8 games of the season, Eric Garcia (404 minutes), and Andreas Christensen (310 minutes).

De Jong, after his recovery, may play in the back line, and Alejandro Balde may participate in the right-back position if necessary, pending the recovery of Conde and Bellerin from their injuries.

What seems clear is that Gerard Pique, the central defender with the most minor participation so far this season, will enjoy more minutes in the next stage.