Injury update: Key Barcelona duo ruled out for several weeks

It seems that things just keep getting worse and worse for Barcelona.

Following their disappointing 0-3 loss to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League group game at Camp Nou on Tuesday, it has emerged that two of their key players, Jordi Alba and Pedri, are set for a spell out on the sidelines.

Barcelona began their European journey for the season with a meek defeat against Die Roten, with goals from Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski (2) condemning them to a defeat. In the aftermath, there has been a tense atmosphere created within the club, with manager Ronald Koeman coming under intense scrutiny.

Now, it has emerged that, Barca will also have to deal with the absence of two of their most pivotal members from the starting XI in Alba and Pedri, as reported by AS.

Alba had returned with an injury during the international break but was rushed back for the big game against Bayern. The veteran defender looked absolutely knackered when he was taken off for Alejandro Balde late in the game.

It has now been confirmed that he has suffered “a muscle injury in the biceps femoris of the right leg,” and is likely to be sidelined until the next international break, meaning he will miss key clashes against the likes of Benfica, Atletico Madrid.

As for Pedri, the youngster has been playing relentlessly for club and country over the past year, until he got a well-deserved three-week break around the international break. While fatigue had become a major concern, the teenage midfielder is now said to have picked up “an injury to the quadriceps of the left leg,” in the Bayern clash.

The report adds that the 18-year-old could be sidelined for two to three weeks and maybe in line to return for the game against Atletico on October 2. The duo joins Martin Braithwaite, Sergio Aguero, Ansu Fati and Ousmane Dembele on the sidelines.

This puts Koeman in a very difficult position, especially with his options at left-back, considering that Barcelona did not replace Junior Firpo in the summer. Balde could be in line for extended game-time or it may be the case of Sergino Dest or Sergio Roberto playing at left-back for the coming weeks.