Hansi Flick Devastated as Barcelona Star Suffers Major Injury Setback
Barcelona's frustrated coach Hansi Flick has announced that Pedri will miss Sunday's encounter against La Liga surprise contenders Villarreal, while detailing the playmaker's anticipated return timeline.
Pedri's impact on Barcelona's midfield operations is immeasurable. During the two Champions League fixtures the Spanish orchestrator sat out last month due to muscular problems, Barça conceded six goals total. The Catalan side has assembled seven straight wins since Pedri's comeback in late November, with their intelligent No. 8 recording four assists in his last three domestic appearances.
Breaking club milestones previously held by Lionel Messi speaks volumes, and Flick has exhausted every glowing descriptor in his praise of the compact midfielder. "Pedri is a phenomenal talent, world class. What more can I express about him?" The German tactician can now add that he's sidelined.
"He will not be available," Flick informed gathered reporters before Sunday's journey to Villarreal, who began the weekend positioned third in La Liga standings. "I'm disappointed about this situation. He's carrying an injury."
Pedri's physical condition has remained a persistent concern. Following his participation in virtually every possible fixture during his inaugural season in Catalonia, Barcelona's Andrés Iniesta successor spent the subsequent three campaigns dealing with the consequences of that excessive workload. Previous season Pedri was absent for only three contests, gaining significantly from the fresh training methods introduced by Flick. Nevertheless, the 23-year-old's physique has once more shown vulnerability: Sunday's match marks the seventh game he'll miss this campaign.
Nonetheless, an extended absence isn't anticipated.
When Will Pedri Be Back for Barcelona?
"I believe he'll be prepared for Espanyol," Flick optimistically forecasted, referencing Barcelona's opening fixture of 2026 on Jan. 3. "He's experiencing hamstring complications, but the danger is extremely elevated. He could feature [against Villarreal], but the risk remains substantial.
"We must protect him and ensure he gets proper treatment. We cannot gamble with his health. That represents the wisest approach currently. We require him for the coming matches against Espanyol and the Spanish Super Cup. We must adjust since we possess tremendous talent throughout the roster."
Flick is wise to consider the broader perspective, but Pedri's unavailability will certainly be noticed this weekend. Despite their difficulties in the Champions League—Villarreal occupy joint-last position in the 36-team competition with one point from six outings—Barcelona's upcoming adversaries have delivered a remarkably strong opening half of the league campaign.
The Yellow Submarine have only suffered defeats to Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, collecting 35 points from 45 available. Victory at La Ceramica would position Villarreal five points behind Barcelona while holding two matches in reserve over the division's current pacesetters. Without Pedri to neutralize, Flick's task this weekend has become considerably more demanding.