Barcelona suffer injury blow as Pedri picks up hamstring issue, out 3-4 weeks

Barcelona may have secured a victory over Slavia Prague on Wednesday, but the standout story from the match was an injury to star midfielder Pedri. The 23-year-old was forced to leave the pitch around the hour mark and was seen clutching his hamstring, raising serious concerns for the Catalan club.

Pedri will undergo additional medical tests today to assess the severity of his injury, but Diario AS journalist Javi Miguel has played down fears of a long-term setback. The midfielder has sustained a tear to the biceps femoris in his right leg, though he is expected to recover in under a month..

The Spaniard has recorded two goals and eight assists in 25 appearances this season, playing a crucial role in Hansi Flick’s squad.

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick expressed concern over Pedri’s injury during his press conference. The German admitted he is unsure how long the Spanish midfielder will be sidelined, which could pose a significant problem for his side.

"I don't know exactly how he is but it's a hamstring problem. We will have to wait until tomorrow to see how he goes but it's not good news," Flick told reporters.

Pedri’s injury could hardly have come at a worse time for Barcelona. Gavi remains sidelined as he continues his recovery from knee surgery, and although Flick can call upon Frenkie de Jong, Eric Garcia, Marc Bernal and Marc Casado in the pivot roles, the Dutch international will not be available for next week’s decisive Champions League encounter against FC Copenhagen.

Having accumulated three yellow cards in the Champions League, De Jong will miss Wednesday’s final league-phase encounter with Copenhagen through suspension. His absence is a blow for Barcelona, given his status as a regular starter in midfield, and Eric Garcia is tipped to replace him for the match.

At present, Barcelona have 13 points, the same total as seven other teams ranging from sixth to 13th place. They must defeat the Danish side in the next round if they want to finish in the top eight. Failing to secure a positive result would see them face a knockout play-off in February.