ไทย
English
中國人
Barcelona's Champions League win over Aston Villa came with a significant cost, as it was confirmed that Rodri will be sidelined for a period after leaving the match with a muscular problem.
Rodri has established himself as a vital component of Hansi Flick's midfield since joining the club this summer in what many regarded as the standout signing of the 2026 summer transfer window.
After bouncing back from minor back surgery following the World Cup, Rodri has appeared in 14 matches during his first season with Barcelona, cementing his place in one of the most talented midfields in world football.
However, concerns about Rodri's physical condition began to mount when he was left on the bench for Barcelona's loss to Paris Saint-Germain on Oct. 20. When he came on in the second half, he was clearly not at his sharpest, and those worries deepened after a thoroughly underwhelming display in his El Clásico debut just days later.
After completing a full 90 minutes at the weekend against Deportivo Alavés and starting against Aston Villa, those concerns seemed to fade. But when Rodri was substituted at the break, alarm bells rang immediately at Barça. The following day, Barcelona confirmed that the concerns were well-founded.
What Injury Does Rodri Have?
Rodri didn't appear particularly restricted in the first half against Aston Villa — or at least it didn't look as though a fitness concern was affecting his ability to cope with Villa's intense pressing. Yet, after completing 46 of 50 passes, Rodri emerged from the halftime tunnel wearing a large raincoat and took a seat on the bench as Marc Bernal stepped in to replace him.
The following day, Barcelona issued a statement providing more information on Rodri's new injury.
"Rodrigo Hernández has undergone medical examinations following the muscular discomfort he experienced during yesterday's match against Aston Villa," Barcelona's statement read. "The tests have confirmed a minor injury to his right hamstring.
"He will be absent for next Sunday's fixture against Atlético Madrid. His precise recovery timeline will depend on how the injury progresses."
Rodri dealt with hamstring troubles during his final campaign at Manchester City after returning from the ACL injury that kept him out for nearly a year. While the new hamstring problem is described as "minor," he is still expected to miss more than just the weekend clash against Atlético Madrid, which itself remains uncertain.
When Will Rodri Return From Injury?
Although Barcelona did not provide a specific return date for Rodri, The Athletic report that the Spaniard will remain unavailable until at least the conclusion of the upcoming international break, ruling him out of Spain's UEFA Nations League fixtures against Czechia and England.
However, SPORT and other Spanish outlets suggest the elite midfielder could be sidelined for the remainder of November.
Flick has a track record of being particularly careful when reintroducing players after injury. If Rodri is indeed out for three to four weeks, he could miss as many as four matches in total. He is already ruled out for the trip to Atlético this week, and could also be absent for games against Villarreal, Sabah FK, and Deportivo A Coruña on the other side of the international break.
Should Rodri's recovery go smoothly, he would most likely be ready for the fixture against Celta Vigo on Dec. 6 and, crucially, the home showdown against former club Manchester City in a highly anticipated Champions League encounter on Dec. 8.
For now, however, Marc Bernal and Frenkie de Jong are the leading candidates to partner Pedri in midfield at the Metropolitano on Sunday in a match where La Liga's top spot is on the line.