Football

Barcelona's Champions League hopes have been dealt a significant blow with the news that midfielders Pedri and Frenkie de Jong are set to miss the second leg clash against Napoli due to injuries.De Jong suffered a right ankle sprain in Sunday's goalless draw at Athletic Bilbao, while Pedri picked up a new injury to his right hamstring. The club has not specified the duration of their absence, but both players could be out for more than a month.This is a major setback for Barcelona, who are already without Sergio Busquets due to suspension. Pedri and De Jong have been key figures in Xavi Hernandez's team this season, and their absence will be a significant blow to the team's chances of progressing in the Champions League.De Jong has been sidelined earlier this season with a right ankle injury, while Pedri has been plagued by right thigh problems. This is the third time Pedri has suffered a right thigh injury this season.Pedri is also expected to miss Spain's international friendlies against Colombia in London on March 22 and Brazil at Santiago Bernabeu four days later."They are two very influential players in our game, two very important players. We will miss them," said Xavi after the draw at Bilbao.Barcelona will host Napoli on March 12 in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie. The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw, so the tie is finely poised.Without Pedri and De Jong, Barcelona will have to find a way to replace their creativity and energy in midfield. Gavi, Nico Gonzalez, and Riqui Puig are all options for Xavi, but none of them have the same experience or quality as Pedri and De Jong.The injuries to Pedri and De Jong are a major blow to Barcelona's hopes of winning the Champions League this season. The Catalans have not won the competition since 2015, and they will need to be at their best to overcome Napoli and progress to the quarter-finals.

In a weekend of missed opportunities, both Girona and Barcelona failed to capitalize on Real Madrid's draw against Valencia, surrendering points in their respective matches.Girona, who had a chance to regain ground on the league leaders, succumbed to a 1-0 defeat at Mallorca. The hosts took the lead in the 33rd minute through Jose-Manuel Copete, and Girona's struggles continued as they failed to score for the third time in five games.Barcelona, aiming to move into second place, were held to a goalless draw by Bilbao. The match lacked intensity, and Barcelona suffered potential injuries to Frenkie de Jong and Pedri.Atletico Madrid, on the other hand, tightened their grip on fourth place with a 2-1 victory over Betis. Memphis Depay's cross deflected into the Betis net for an early lead, and Alvaro Morata added a second before halftime. Betis pulled one back through William Carvalho, but Atletico held on for the win.In other matches, Villarreal crushed Granada 5-1, with Alexander Sorloth scoring a hat-trick.

Ilkay Gundogan, a veteran midfielder who witnessed Phil Foden's rise at Manchester City, now finds himself mentoring a similar talent at Barcelona: Lamine Yamal. Gundogan, who joined Barcelona in 2023, has observed striking similarities between Foden and Yamal, both of whom debuted as teenagers.Like Guardiola at City, Xavi at Barcelona has shown faith in young players, giving Yamal ample playing time despite his tender age. However, Yamal's path has been more challenging, as he has assumed greater responsibility at a younger age than Foden.Gundogan attributes this difference to the size and competitiveness of Barcelona's squad, which has forced Yamal to prove himself more quickly. Despite the pressure, Yamal's attitude and character have impressed Gundogan, who believes the competition will ultimately benefit him.Barcelona's youth movement is evident in their roster, with over a dozen players born after 2004. Gundogan sees a bright future for the club, despite their current inconsistencies. He believes that the team is still in the early stages of a new project and that consistency will come with time.While Barcelona trails Real Madrid in the league, Gundogan remains optimistic about their Champions League prospects. He is focused on making Xavi's farewell as a manager a memorable one and is confident that the team can achieve success under his guidance.