FC Barcelona will play their first home game of the 2025/26 season this Sunday, September 14, with four players out due to injury. Hansi Flick's team hosts Valencia (9:00 PM CEST) at the Johan Cruyff Stadium without Marc-André ter Stegen, Gavi, Alejandro Balde, and Frenkie de Jong.
The Dutchman is suffering from a minor injury in his right leg, near the gluteus, but will be out as a precaution, thinking about the Champions League debut against Newcastle next Thursday the 18th. Not in vain, the midfielder trained apart from the group in the Thursday and Friday sessions, although he worked on the pitch.
Gavi and Balde, out against Valencia and Newcastle
Less encouraging is the prognosis with Gavi and Balde. The full-back suffered an injury to his left hamstring during a training session at the Ciutat Esportiva and will be out for at least two weeks. Therefore, he is confirmed to miss not only the Valencia game but also the visit to Newcastle.
Hopefully, the '3' will be available for the match on Sunday the 21st against Getafe at home, although it is more likely that he will reappear either against Oviedo (Thursday the 25th) or against Real Sociedad (Sunday the 28th).
In the case of Gavi, the decision will be to wait for the results of the conservative treatment on his right knee. If the '6' does not show improvement, he will undergo an arthroscopy on the internal meniscus, which would keep the 21-year-old player out for a month.
In that sense, the Andalusian would reappear after the October break. If, on the contrary, there is improvement thanks to the conservative treatment, the player will intensify the physical work day by day until receiving the 'Ok' to play. In the best case scenario, the midfielder will be around 10-15 days more on the sidelines.
Thus, Barça's infirmary has four players before facing Valencia:
- Marc-André ter Stegen: out due to back problems. The German will be out for at least four months, after undergoing surgery in July.
- Alejandro Balde: the full-back suffers an injury to his left hamstring and his return date is set for the last week of September.
- Pablo Gavi: the pain in his right knee prevented him from playing against Rayo and traveling with the Spanish National Team during the break. The club will wait a few more days to define whether or not the midfielder should undergo surgery.
- Frenkie de Jong: the Dutchman suffered an injury in the external obturator muscle of his right leg during the Netherlands-Poland (1-1) match that will leave him out against Valencia, only as a precaution to avoid a possible tear.
Barça loses Gavi and De Jong, but recovers Marc Bernal against Valencia
The good news for Hansi Flick and his coaching staff is that, after a year out, Marc Bernal will finally reappear this weekend against Valencia. Barring any last-minute surprises, the 18-year-old player will be in the squad, as he has been training at full capacity in recent weeks, without any discomfort in his left knee.
Now with the number '22' on his back, the player from Berga would be on the bench waiting for an opportunity. Marc Casadó is shaping up as De Jong's replacement in the pivot position, where Eric García can also lend a hand.
In the case of Balde, his absence will be covered by Gerard Martín, who already played his first minutes of the season against Rayo, after missing the first two games due to the mess with his registration. Will there be surprises in Flick's XI?