The FC Barcelona infirmary already has 8 players by mid-October. The absence of Robert Lewandowski is the second confirmed injury of the second break of the season and the twelfth muscular setback suffered by the footballers of the Barça squad since the beginning of the preseason.
Ter Stegen was the first to fall during the summer due to lower back discomfort. 'Lewy' himself returned from the Asian tour with a pain in his left biceps femoris, which has ruptured this month.
The Pole will be out for at least 4 to 6 weeks, while Dani Olmo, the other player affected by the 'FIFA virus' in October, will also be out for 15 to 21 days due to an injury to the soleus muscle in his left leg. Ferran Torres also returned 'touched' from Spain, but for now he is spared from injury.
Lamine and Fermín Could Bring Good News to Barça Against Girona
In that sense, Barça currently has 8 absentees 4 days before the match against Girona in Montjuïc, this Saturday the 18th for matchday 9 of LaLiga (16:15 CEST). The list of injured players, however, could be reduced to 6 if the returns of Lamine Yamal and Fermín López are confirmed.
Both have trained normally in recent days and should be available against Girona. Lamine missed the match against Sevilla after relapsing from his pubalgia, while Fermín has been out since September 21 due to an injury to his left iliopsoas muscle.
Barring any surprises, both would be substitutes on Saturday, but Hansi Flick will recover two key players just a week before the first Clásico of the season against Real Madrid. Less encouraging, for now, is the prognosis with Raphinha.
The Brazilian has not yet overcome his discomfort in his right thigh and continues to not train on the grass of the Tito Vilanova field at the Ciutat Esportiva. Therefore, his absence against Girona is certain, and there are also fears about his presence in the Clásico. Although his time off was estimated at 3 weeks, the '11' has not progressed as expected.
The 8 Absences That Barcelona Is Suffering, For Now
| PLAYER | INJURY | ESTIMATED RETURN |
|---|---|---|
| Ter Stegen | Surgery for lower back problems | January 2026 |
| Gavi | Surgery for a right meniscus injury | February 2026 |
| Fermín López | Injury to the left iliopsoas | October 18 |
| Raphinha | Right femoral biceps injury | October 21-26 |
| Lamine Yamal | Pubalgia | October 18-21 |
| Joan García | Surgery for a left meniscus injury | November 2025 |
| Dani Olmo | Injury to the left calf | November 2025 |
| Lewandowski | Muscle tear of the left femoral biceps | November 2025 |
Gavi and Ter Stegen, the Only Long-Term Absences in Barcelona
Fortunately, of the eight players in the Barça infirmary, only two will be out for a long time. Joan García still has to wait at least a couple more weeks to define his return date. The goalkeeper underwent surgery for a torn internal meniscus in his left knee on September 28 and his recovery time was estimated at 4 to 6 weeks.
Although the player from Sallent is not ruled out for the Clásico, it is very likely that his return will be postponed, even until after the November international break, to give the meniscus enough recovery time.
Pablo Gavi, on the other hand, will be out until February-March 2026, as his surgery on the right meniscus required a suture that may take 4 to 5 months to heal. Marc-André ter Stegen, in turn, could also reappear only in January, once he completes the recovery time from his back surgery.
- In FC Barcelona Noticias we tell you every detail of the Barça news and the evolution of all the injured players