Frenkie de Jong suffered a major setback when he injured the lower lateral hamstring of his right leg during training, dealing a major blow to FC Barcelona at a crucial stage of the season.
Medical tests have confirmed the extent of the injury and the Dutch midfielder is expected to be sidelined for five to six weeks.
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The timing couldn’t have been worse for Barcelona, who are battling for a place in La Liga and preparing for the high-stakes Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League. Head coach Hansi Flick currently faces the challenge of reshaping his midfield without his most consistent performers.
Barcelona face Newcastle United
Barcelona drew with Newcastle United in the last 16 of the Champions League. The first leg will be played at St James’ Park on Tuesday 10th March, with the return leg scheduled for Wednesday 18th March at Spotify Camp Nou. Given De Jong’s expected recovery schedule, it is highly unlikely that he will be available for either leg.
The two clubs have already faced each other in European matches this season. Barcelona won 2-1 in the league at St James’ Park thanks to two goals from Marcus Rashford, with goalkeeper Joao Garcia also producing a strong performance between the posts. While this early result should bring some confidence, De Jong’s absence means Barcelona will be missing a key part of its midfield structure.
If Barcelona defeat Newcastle, their quarter-final opponents will be Atletico Madrid or Tottenham Hotspur, with the first leg scheduled for April 7th or 8th and the return leg scheduled for April 14th or 15th. Potential semi-final opponents for the side of the draw include Sporting CP, Bodø/Glimt, Arsenal or Bayer Leverkusen.
Potential rivals of FC Barcelona
A hypothetical final could see them face European powerhouses such as Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Galatasaray, Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.
De Jong’s absence will be felt immediately. The 26-year-old has played 31 games this season and recently scored his first goal of the season against Levante. His ability to control the tempo, advance the ball through midfield, and link defense and attack made him a central part of Flick’s system.
Beyond the immediate competitive implications, de Jong is also approaching a personal milestone. With 290 appearances for Barcelona, he is just two games shy of the club’s record for most appearances by a Dutch player, which currently stands at 292, held by Philippe Cocu.
