Barcelona star Ferran Torres is going to be sidelined for a whopping five weeks after picking up a thigh injury during their La Liga match against Osasuna.
This is a huge blow for the 23-year-old who’s been on fire this season, scoring 11 goals and setting up 4 more in all competitions. He even started the Osasuna game, but had to be subbed off early while in tears.
Tests revealed a nasty tear in his right thigh muscle, according to journalist Javi Miguel. That means Torres will miss Barcelona’s next six matches, including the crucial first leg of their Champions League clash against Napoli on February 21st.
To make matters worse, Barcelona already have a mini-hospital of injured players, with 9 others currently out of action. That includes big names like Gavi, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and Raphinha.
Despite the injury woes, Barcelona did manage to scrape by with a 1-0 win over Osasuna thanks to a late goal from Vitor Roque.
Manager Xavi wasn’t exactly thrilled with the performance, though. He told reporters that they “lacked composure” and need to “improve technically.” He did praise the team’s “reaction” and “unity” in tough circumstances, but made it clear there’s work to be done.
Xavi also took aim at the busy schedule, calling it “criminal” and blaming it for the string of injuries. He pointed out that they played 9 games in January, many away from home, with a small squad. “There are many injuries because of the calendar,” he grumbled.
Torres’ absence is a big loss, especially since Xavi just gave him a rest due to fatigue. The manager called him “one of the most intense players” and admitted that his absence will be “noticeable.”
Before facing Napoli, Barcelona has three La Liga matches to navigate against Alaves, Granada, and Celta Vigo. They’re currently sitting fourth in the table, 8 points behind leaders Girona. ⚽️
So, can Barcelona cope without Torres? Will the busy schedule continue to wreak havoc on their squad? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: things just got a lot tougher for Xavi and his team.
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