FC Barcelona Players :

FC Barcelona’s aspirations to close the gap with LaLiga leaders Real Madrid were thwarted as they were held to a goalless draw by Athletic Club on Sunday. The defending champions missed a golden opportunity to cut the deficit to Real, who had dropped points a day earlier, settling for a 2-2 draw against Valencia. The draw leaves FC Barcelona trailing Real by eight points, with Girona also remaining ahead by a solitary point.

The disappointment of the result was compounded by the injury woes suffered by FC Barcelona players in the midfield. Both Frenkie de Jong and Pedri were forced off in the first half due to injuries. De Jong, who endured a two-month layoff earlier in the season with a sprained ankle, was stretchered off after landing awkwardly on his ankle. Meanwhile, Pedri limped off just before halftime with his third muscle injury of the campaign, further exacerbating FC Barcelona’s midfield crisis.

FC Barcelona manager Xavi Hernández expressed concern over the injuries, acknowledging the significant impact both players have on the team’s style of play. The absence of De Jong and Pedri proved pivotal as FC Barcelona failed to assert themselves against an in-form Athletic side, known for their strong home record. Xavi lamented the missed opportunity to capitalize on Real Madrid’s slip-up and emphasized the need for self-criticism and improvement.

The draw against Athletic leaves FC Barcelona in third place with 58 points, trailing Real Madrid at the summit. With key fixtures looming in both LaLiga and the Champions League, FC Barcelona find themselves grappling with a depleted midfield. The absence of De Jong and Pedri adds to the list of sidelined FC Barcelona players, including Gavi, Alejandro Balde, Marcos Alonso, and Ferran Torres, further testing the depth of FC Barcelona’s squad.

As FC Barcelona navigate through a crucial juncture of the season, with the Champions League round-of-16 tie against Napoli and a pivotal LaLiga clash against Atlético Madrid on the horizon, Xavi faces the challenge of reshuffling his FC Barcelona midfield options. The injuries to De Jong and Pedri underscore the fragility of FC Barcelona’s campaign as they seek to mount a late title charge in LaLiga and pursue European success.