October 24, 2026
Barcelona is facing a severe defensive crisis ahead of its upcoming match against its traditional rival, Real Madrid, scheduled for tomorrow, Sunday, in the tenth round of the Spanish League, after it was confirmed that French defender Jules Kounde will be absent from the match.
Barcelona’s technical director, German Hansi Flick, confirmed during the introductory press conference that Kounde will not be available to participate because he has not fully recovered from the injury, stressing the technical staff’s refusal to risk the player’s safety.
The French defender had suffered a sprain in his left ankle during the match against Real Betis, which led to his absence from the match with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, and his subsequent failure to join the Clásico despite his tireless attempts to recover, according to what the Spanish newspaper “AS” reported. Kounde is scheduled to continue his rehabilitation program in preparation for his return against Deportivo Alaves on the 31st of this October.
This absence puts the technical staff facing a complex challenge in the back line, in light of the continued absence of Eric Garcia due to injury, which makes it likely that Flick will rely on the player Xavi Espart in the right-back position, along with Pau Cobarci, Gerard Martin, and Joao Cancelo. The Catalan team is also missing the efforts of Dani Olmo, who suffers from a muscle injury that will keep him out of action for several weeks.
These influential absences come at a crucial time as Barcelona seeks to strengthen its lead in the Spanish League standings, while Real Madrid is looking to take advantage of these circumstances to reduce the gap with its traditional rival.
