"Both Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde were injured during the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night. Curiously, both suffered the same issue: a hamstring injury in the left leg. Barça have confirmed that Balde is out for four weeks, and while there was no timeline specified for Kounde's injury officially, he too is expected to be out for a month."
"Espart is a player whom Flick holds in high regard. The youngster has found his niche at right-back after starting out as a defensive midfielder and excels with his attacking capabilities on the flank. At the same time, the La Masia teenager has worked hard to improve his defensive game, while also adding muscle mass to get better physically."
"With the Frenchman likely to be out for a month, Flick could rely on Eric Garcia and Espart at right-back, while utilising Gerard Martin and Joao Cancelo at left-back to cover for Balde's absence."
Barcelona's full-back situation has been severely impacted by injuries sustained during the Copa del Rey semi-final against Atletico Madrid. Both Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde suffered hamstring injuries in their left legs, with Balde confirmed out for four weeks and Kounde expected to miss approximately one month. Manager Hansi Flick must address the shortage in both full-back positions using available squad options including Joao Cancelo and Gerard Martin. The club has responded by promoting 18-year-old academy right-back Xavi Espart to first-team training. Espart, who previously recovered from a knee injury, has impressed with his attacking abilities and defensive improvements. The youngster is considered ready for the next step in his development and may feature prominently during the injury absence.
Read at Barca Universal
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