Barcelona have been dealt a fresh setback after confirming that Spanish midfielder Fermin López will be unavailable for the next two weeks due to a calf injury. The club announced the news on Thursday, stating, “Fermin has a small injury to the soleus muscle in his right leg, and his estimated recovery time is around two weeks.”
The 22-year-old’s absence comes at a challenging moment in the season, with Barcelona preparing for a demanding run of fixtures across domestic and European competitions. López is set to miss three key La Liga matches against Alaves, Atletico Madrid, and Real Betis. His availability for the crucial Champions League home clash against Eintracht Frankfurt on December 9 also remains uncertain, leaving coach Hansi Flick with a significant gap to fill in midfield.
López had recently worked his way into becoming a reliable starter under Flick, reflecting his rapid development within the squad. Though still relatively lesser-known outside Spain, his impact has been increasingly notable. Last season, he made 46 appearances under Flick, largely coming off the bench as Barcelona secured a domestic treble. This year, his influence has grown even more, highlighting his importance to the team’s evolving structure.
After suffering an injury in late September, López had only just returned to form in recent weeks. His comeback had been impressive, contributing five goals and four assists in six matches, showcasing both creativity and finishing ability from midfield. His performances had added a much-needed spark to Barcelona’s attack, making the timing of this setback particularly frustrating for the team.
Barcelona enter this period sitting second in the La Liga table, and Flick will now be forced to reconsider his lineup and rotation strategy. The injury compounds the disappointment of their recent 3-0 defeat against Chelsea in the Champions League, a result that has increased scrutiny over the team’s consistency at the highest level.
López’s recovery will be monitored closely as Barcelona navigate a congested fixture list. While the club remains optimistic about his return within two weeks, the midfielder’s absence will test the squad’s depth and resilience during a critical phase of the campaign.
If his rehabilitation proceeds as expected, López could still be available for the decisive stages of their European push, but for now, his injury leaves Barcelona with fewer creative options in midfield and added pressure as they aim to maintain momentum domestically and abroad.
