FC Barcelona continues to be plagued by injuries. Now Robert Lewandowski has also been struck down.
Robert Lewandowski is in danger of missing the Clasico. On Tuesday afternoon, FC Barcelona announced that the striker had suffered a torn muscle in his left hamstring. The Catalans did not specify how long he would be out of action, stating only that it would depend on “how the injury develops.” However, it is feared that Lewandowski will not be fit in time for the away game against archrivals Real Madrid on October 26. Lewandowski had played 90 minutes for Poland in the World Cup qualifier in Lithuania on Sunday evening, scoring his 87th goal in 161 international appearances to make it 2-0. Afterwards, however, he complained of discomfort, which was examined more closely after his return to Barcelona and has now led to a diagnosis that Hansi Flick will not be happy about. Lewandowski had even been rested in the previous friendly against New Zealand (1-0).
The Barca coach is currently plagued by new injury problems with his players on an almost daily basis. Just on Monday, his employer announced diagnoses for Ferran Torres (muscle problems) and Dani Olmo (calf injury), both of which were less serious than Lewandowski’s. With goalkeepers Marc-André ter Stegen and Joan Garcia, as well as Gavi, Fermin Lopez, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal, Flick had six other players unavailable.
Barca returns from the international break on Saturday with a home game against FC Girona. Three days later, they will be looking to secure their second win in their third Champions League game against Olympiacos Piraeus, before the Clasico, in which the Catalans will take to the field wearing special Ed Sheeran jerseys. After eight matchdays, Real Madrid leads the La Liga table, two points ahead of defending champions Barca. Flick’s team lost the top spot on the last matchday with a 1-4 defeat at Sevilla FC.