According to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona defender Kounde suffered a severe left ankle sprain in last Saturday's match against Betis. Although he played the entire match, he was visibly limping when he returned to Seville the following day. He will undergo further examinations on Sunday, and there is currently pessimism within the club regarding his availability for next Sunday's El Clásico against Real Madrid.
The 27-year-old suffered the severe left ankle sprain in last Saturday's match against Betis. Although he finished the game, he was visibly limping upon his return to Seville the following day. Medical examinations conducted on Sunday revealed a painful sprain, which ultimately led to his absence from yesterday's match against Paris Saint-Germain. Combined with Eric García's absence, Barcelona's defense was stretched thin at the Parc des Princes.
It remains uncertain whether he will be available for next Sunday's match against Real Madrid. Hans Flick did not rule out Kounde's participation before the Paris Saint-Germain match. However, as of now, Barcelona's coaching staff believes it will be very difficult for him to play in El Clásico due to intense pain in the affected area, which has caused severe limping.
In such cases, it is often possible to temporarily alleviate pain with an injection and allow the player to compete, but this risks worsening ligament damage by forcing overuse of an area already compromised by severe sprain. The final decision will rest with the player, Flick, and the medical team at the last minute, but for now, the mood surrounding Kounde's participation in El Clásico is pessimistic.
Sergi Balde's excellent performance against Paris Saint-Germain could partially mitigate the impact of Kounde's absence. Another option mentioned by Flick to strengthen central defense is De Jong. However, Flick did not give him any playing time yesterday, either as a center-back or midfielder, which also reduces his chances of playing in El Clásico.
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