Barcelona will be without defenders Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde for their UEFA Champions League last 16 tie against Newcastle United after both were diagnosed with hamstring injuries on Wednesday.
Both players were substituted due to injury during Barcelona’s 3 0 Copa del Rey semi-final win over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, although the Catalans were eliminated 4 3 on aggregate.
Barcelona announced that Balde will require approximately four weeks to recover, while Kounde is expected to miss a similar period, according to Spanish media reports. The injuries mean the duo will also miss upcoming La Liga fixtures against Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla and Rayo Vallecano.
The club is already without midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who is also sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Kounde’s injury casts doubt on his participation in France’s friendlies against Brazil and Colombia in the United States later this month ahead of the summer World Cup. Balde, a Spain international, has mostly been a backup to Marc Cucurella and Alex Grimaldo in coach Luis de la Fuente’s squad.
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