Barcelona midfielder major doubt for Alaves clash due to muscular discomfort

Barcelona will be aiming to bounce back from back-to-back defeats in La Liga when they take on Deportivo Alaves this weekend. However, the Catalans may have to go into the contest on Saturday without the services of versatile midfielder Sergi Roberto.

Barcelona’s fourth club captain has not been a regular starter this season but did feature in the lineup against Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday night. Starting at right-back, the 29-year-old did not make the best of impressions either in defence or going forward.

Roberto came off around the hour mark at Estadio de Vallecas, making way for Yusuf Demir. And, AS is now reporting that the Spaniard suffered a muscular discomfort on Wednesday which led to his substitution, making him a serious doubt for the game against Alaves.

The report adds that Roberto arrived at Ciutat Esportivo on Thursday morning to start his rehabilitation, where he was met by teammates Ansu Fati and Pedri, both of whom were unavailable for the midweek clash due to injuries of their own.

Ansu Fati missed the game due to discomfort in his right knee that he picked up during the El Clasico last weekend. And the report goes on to mention that the 18-year-old could be unavailable against Alaves as well, so as to be ready for the pivotal UEFA Champions League clash against Dynamo Kyiv.

As for Pedri, the teenage midfielder has suffered a setback in his recovery programme and could be unavailable until after the international break next month.

Apart from the trio, Ronald Araujo, Ousmane Dembele and Martin Braithwaite are also injury-related absentees for Barcelona. Frenkie de Jong also missed the midweek clash against Rayo Vallecano.

With a pivotal couple of fixtures coming up, the Catalan giants would be hoping to have all their players back available at the earliest. With Ronald Koeman being sacked on Wednesday, Sergi Barjuan, who was named as the interim manager, is set to take charge of the first team for the Alaves clash.