The Catalan right-back, injured in the defeat to Real Madrid, will be sidelined for nearly two months, deepening the club's defensive crisis.
FC Barcelona must cope with yet another absence in its defensive department. The Catalan club announced on Monday, October 26 that right-back Xavi Espart will be unavailable for approximately seven weeks, following an ankle injury sustained in Sunday's defeat to Real Madrid, October 25.
The news comes amid an already tense context for the coach. The Blaugrana back line has been hit by a succession of physical setbacks, forcing the technical staff to multiply tactical adjustments and rotate the squad. Each unavailability further reduces the room for manoeuvre in a position where squad depth is already limited.
The fixture list offers no respite. The club must string together decisive matches in La Liga, where every point counts in the title race, as well as Champions League commitments, a competition where defensive consistency will be decisive. Finding a reliable solution in this position has become an immediate priority for the Catalan bench.
From a medical standpoint, a timeframe of roughly seven weeks corresponds to a ligament or muscle injury of intermediate severity. The player's return will depend on how his ankle progresses and the rigour of his rehabilitation. At this stage, the club has not provided further detail on the exact nature of the injury.
For Xavi Espart, this absence is a personal setback, as it deprives him of playing time at a moment when he was seeking to establish his place in the team. His return to competition will be closely watched by both the staff and supporters, who are looking forward to a fully fit squad to tackle the second half of the season in the best possible conditions.
The news comes amid an already tense context for the coach. The Blaugrana back line has been hit by a succession of physical setbacks, forcing the technical staff to multiply tactical adjustments and rotate the squad. Each unavailability further reduces the room for manoeuvre in a position where squad depth is already limited.
The fixture list offers no respite. The club must string together decisive matches in La Liga, where every point counts in the title race, as well as Champions League commitments, a competition where defensive consistency will be decisive. Finding a reliable solution in this position has become an immediate priority for the Catalan bench.
From a medical standpoint, a timeframe of roughly seven weeks corresponds to a ligament or muscle injury of intermediate severity. The player's return will depend on how his ankle progresses and the rigour of his rehabilitation. At this stage, the club has not provided further detail on the exact nature of the injury.
For Xavi Espart, this absence is a personal setback, as it deprives him of playing time at a moment when he was seeking to establish his place in the team. His return to competition will be closely watched by both the staff and supporters, who are looking forward to a fully fit squad to tackle the second half of the season in the best possible conditions.
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Source: Ouest-France