Barcelona has ruled out French defender Jules Koundé for the match against Alavés, scheduled for this Saturday at 9:00 p.m. at the Camp Nou, because his sprained left ankle has not shown the expected recovery. The injury, which occurred during the derby with Betis ten days ago, has been a cause of concern for the coaching staff, who decided not to risk making it worse.
The initial plan was for Koundé to return to the squad in midweek, with the intention of making him available for the match with Alavés. However, on Wednesday the player reported discomfort when putting on his boot and, after a brief training session outside the group, on Thursday it was agreed that he would not reappear before the game. The decision was made by consensus between the coaching staff and the medical department, with the aim of avoiding a possible aggravation of the injury.
With Koundé absent, coach Xavi Flick will have to rely on a reduced set of defenders. Among the expected starters are Joao Cancelo, Pau Cubarsí, Gerard Martín and Alejandro Balde. In addition, the possibility of moving Brian Fariñas to the right back position is being considered to expand the rotation options. Less likely is the idea of placing Rodri Hernández or even Frenkie de Jong in the central zone, although no alternative is ruled out.
The signing of Alex Campos, the reserve team's 18-year-old centre-back, has been a precautionary measure. The youngster has been training with the first team in recent days, suggesting the club is preparing the next generation of players to cover potential absences. Despite the reduction in the defensive team, Barcelona remains confident that the rest of the team will be able to compensate for the lack of Koundé and continue competing in the league and the Champions League.
Regarding the club's situation, Barcelona recently lost two important games: 4-2 against PSG in the Champions League and 1-2 against Real Madrid in the league. Koundé's absence, along with the absence of Eric García and Andreas Christensen, represents an additional challenge for Flick, who will have to adjust his tactical strategy for the match with Alavés. The result of this decision will be reflected in the team's performance in the next game and in the rest of the season.