Xavi Espart out around seven weeks with ankle syndesmosis injury as Barça defense thins
Teenage full-back Xavi Espart faces around seven weeks out after damaging the syndesmosis in his right ankle during the Clásico defeat to Real Madrid. He joins a growing list of injured defenders just as Barcelona's league lead shrinks and a busy run of LaLiga and Champions League games begins.
Barcelona will be without Xavi Espart for the coming weeks. Medical tests on Monday, October 26, confirmed the damage. It came from a collision with an opponent during Sunday’s Clásico.
The timing is harsh. Espart had become one of Hansi Flick’s regular starters during his breakout season. His absence leaves the back line very short of bodies.
Raphinha had equalized in the 61st minute, but Real Madrid left Spotify Camp Nou with the win in LaLiga Matchday 10. Once half an hour had been played, the teenager’s match was over. Alejandro Balde came on, and João Cancelo switched to the other flank.
Espart joins Koundé, García, Christensen and Olmo on the sidelines
Barcelona’s defense was already without Andreas Christensen, Koundé and García before Espart went down. Dani Olmo is also missing. He hurt his left adductor in a collision with an opponent against Paris Saint-Germain and is expected to miss around a month.
“The injuries are the biggest concern,” Flick told the club’s website after the game. The coach will have to keep improvising at full-back. Balde or academy players are possible options.
FútbolFantasy reported that Espart could return around mid-December if his recovery goes to plan. That timeline rules him out of several LaLiga and Champions League matches.
A shrinking lead and a tight European table raise the stakes
The Clásico loss ended Barcelona’s perfect league start of nine wins in their first nine games. Barça remain top of LaLiga, with Atlético Madrid two points behind.
Europe offers little breathing room either. The defeat at PSG left Barcelona eighth after three rounds of the Champions League league phase. Eighth is the last place that goes straight through to the round of 16.
The schedule does not ease. LaLiga’s fixture list shows Aston Villa visiting in the Champions League on November 3. A trip to Atlético de Madrid follows on November 8. Villarreal come to Barcelona on November 22, before an away Champions League game against Sabah on November 25.
Each of those matches will test a patched-up defense. First up is Deportivo Alavés on Saturday, October 31, with kickoff at 21:00 local time.
Sources
Calendar and Upcoming Matches of the FC Barcelona (LaLiga)
Parte médico oficial de Xavi Espart y periodo estimado de baja (FútbolFantasy)
Xavi Espart injury news (FC Barcelona)
What Injury Did Xavi Espart Suffer in El Clásico and How Long Will He Be Out? (beIN Sports)
