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Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick disclosed that key midfielder Pedri was dealing with "some physical problems" during Wednesday's Champions League loss to Atlético Madrid.
The slight playmaker is the engine of this Barcelona side. Nearly every meaningful attacking move passes through the central midfielder, who also orchestrates the team's finely tuned press without the ball. It came as little shock that Barcelona faltered throughout the entire second half in his absence against Atlético.
Having already endured Pau Cubarsí's red card and Julián Alvarez curling a stunning free kick into the top corner just before the break, Barcelona suffered yet another setback when Pedri was withdrawn at halftime. As Flick would bluntly confirm after the final whistle, the substitution was not a tactical choice.
What Injury Does Pedri Have?
Barcelona were already short-handed in midfield heading into Wednesday's quarterfinal after Marc Bernal joined Frenkie de Jong on the injury list. Pedri has now been added to those concerns after experiencing discomfort in the back of his thigh, according to AS.
Pedri had previously missed roughly a month of action at the beginning of the calendar year with a hamstring complaint, sitting out the 4–0 thrashing Atlético handed them in the Spanish capital back in February. After a remarkably injury-free first season under Flick, the intense pressing demands of the German manager appear to have taken their toll on his most important player.
Flick has already been deprived of Pedri for 15 matches this season due to various muscular complaints and may be forced to rest him again this coming weekend.
How Long Will Pedri Be Out for?
Until further assessments are conducted on Pedri, the full extent of his injury remains unclear. Regardless of the results, the midfielder is widely expected to miss Saturday's Catalan derby at home against Espanyol.
Barcelona have built a comfortable seven-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. While they will naturally look to extend that gap—especially with the prospect of clinching the title in El Clásico next month—there is sufficient breathing room for some squad rotation domestically, especially against a mid-table side.
Flick may also benefit from the potential return of De Jong—although whether the Dutchman will be fit enough to start his first match since February remains doubtful.
Pedri's availability for the second leg against Atlético next week is the most pressing concern for everyone at the club. Already trailing 2–0 from the first match and still missing key forward Raphinha, Flick can ill afford to lose yet another one of his on-field leaders.