Barcelona have suffered a major injury setback after defender Xavi Espart was ruled out for up to seven weeks after sustaining an ankle injury during Sunday’s 2-1 Clasico defeat to Real Madrid.
The Catalan club confirmed on Monday that the 19-year-old sustained a syndesmosis injury in his right ankle during the encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Espart was forced off in the first half after a challenge from Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, and Alejandro Balde replaced him.
The injury is a significant blow for Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, as Espart has established himself as a regular starter through his impressive performances this season.
The young defender has featured on both sides of the defense, giving the manager valuable versatility.
Espart has made nine appearances across all competitions in the 2026/27 campaign, contributing two goals and two assists.
His growing influence has made him an important option for Flick, who must now find alternatives while the teenager undergoes recovery.
Barcelona are already dealing with several defensive injury problems, with Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen and Eric Garcia also unavailable.
Espart’s absence further reduces Flick’s options as the club prepares for a demanding run of fixtures in La Liga and other competitions.
The setback comes at a difficult time for Barcelona, who will be looking to respond quickly to their Clasico defeat and regain momentum in the league.
Flick and his coaching staff may need to reshuffle the defensive line and rely on available squad members to cover the positions Espart has occupied in recent weeks.
Barcelona are scheduled to face Alaves on October 31, giving the team little time to regroup before their next league fixture.
The match will provide an early test of Flick’s defensive options as the club attempts to cope with its growing injury list.
If the estimated seven-week recovery period proves accurate, Espart could remain sidelined until mid-December, although a longer recovery could delay his return until January.
Barcelona will hope the teenager makes a full recovery as they seek to recover from their Clasico defeat and maintain their challenge across competitions.
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