The day of the Nations League was not favorable for the interests of Barça, since two of Xavi Hernández's footballers had to withdraw injured when there were only three weeks left to play the classic against Real Madrid. In the 23rd minute of the France-Austria game, defender Jules Koundé left the pitch due to an apparently muscular problem.
Koundé did not hesitate to ask for the change. In the same match, Madrid defender Alaba also left in the 70th minute with physical problems. Meanwhile, the Barcelona player Memphis Depay could not finish the match against Poland either. Memphis suffered a collision and then, in the 50th minute, had to be substituted due to muscular problems.
Barça's medical services were waiting for the exact scope of the situation in Koundé and Memphis. The Frenchman is being a fixture in Xavi's lineups after arriving this summer and the Dutchman has been coming in, as evidenced by his starting the last two games of the championship. In both games, both in the one for the bleus and the one for the oranje, two other azulgranas set off the alarms.
The Barça players Frenkie de Jong and Ousmane Dembélé also withdrew, although in principle their physical problems are milder. "He noticed the tense muscles and I changed him, but he hopes to be against Belgium," said the Dutch coach, Louis Van Gaal, after the victory against Poland (0-2), about the midfielder, substituted at half-time.
For his part, Dembélé, who entered the field in the 78th minute of the game, ended the match apparently without any ailment, but according to the journalist Achraf Ben Ayad, the Barcelona winger ended up with discomfort in his calves. All of them will undergo medical tests to determine the extent of his muscular problems.
The injuries and discomfort of the four players come at a delicate moment for Barça, which in the coming days has a particularly tight match schedule with important appointments. The Barcelona players are playing a large part of their future in the Champions League with a double confrontation against Inter Milan and on October 16 they will play the first league classic against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Check the calendar of Barça in the Santander League.
Check Barça's calendar in the Champions League.
