Barcelona have suffered a further blow to their defensive squad after confirming that 19‑year‑old full‑back Xavi Espart will be sidelined for roughly seven weeks. The injury occurred during the first half of Sunday’s LaLiga Clasico, where the Catalan side fell 2‑1 to Real Madrid at the Camp Nou. Espart was forced to leave the pitch and was replaced by Alejandro Balde, and a medical assessment on Monday revealed damage to the syndesmosis joint in his right ankle caused by a collision with an opponent.
The loss of Espart further limits the options available to manager Hansi Flick, who already had to cope with injuries to Andreas Christensen, Jules Koundé and Eric García during the same match. With those three defenders out, the only first‑team options left for the back line are Balde, Pau Cubarsí, Gerard Martín and João Cancelo. Christensen and Koundé are the nearest to returning, but it remains uncertain whether they will be fit for Barça’s next league fixture against Alavés at home on Sunday.
Espart, a product of Barça’s famed 2007 generation that also includes Cubarsí, Lamine Yamal and Marc Bernal, had been enjoying a breakthrough season after being converted from a midfielder to a full‑back by Flick. He began the campaign as a left‑back but was recently shifted to the right side following injuries to Koundé and García, contributing to the team’s defensive solidity in defeats to Paris Saint‑Germain and Madrid.
The injury comes on the heels of Barça’s first LaLiga loss of the season, ending a streak of nine consecutive victories. It follows a 4‑2 defeat to PSG in the Champions League last Tuesday, marking the club’s first setback in European competition this campaign. With the squad’s defensive depth now further eroded, the focus will shift to maintaining performance levels in the upcoming matches while the club works to secure a swift recovery for Espart.