Barça: Jules Koundé ruled out for the return match against Inter
Injury Update: Jules Koundé Likely Out for Crucial Matches Following Champions League Knock
Jules Koundé, the FC Barcelona defender, sustained a hamstring injury during the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan on Wednesday (3-3). The club announced on Thursday that he will be unavailable for at least the return match scheduled for Tuesday at San Siro.
"Medical examinations conducted this morning revealed a distal injury to the hamstring of the left thigh. Koundé’s return to training will depend on the progression of his injury," FC Barcelona stated in a press release, without providing a specific timeline for his recovery.
Spanish media reports suggest that the French international could be sidelined for several weeks, which jeopardizes his participation in the upcoming Clasico against Real Madrid set for May 11.
This setback comes at a particularly unfortunate time for the in-form defender, known for his remarkable consistency. Before being substituted in the first half against Mallorca last week, Koundé had played 105 consecutive matches across all competitions.
He was making his 53rd appearance of the season on Wednesday when he left the field visibly affected by the injury.
An undisputed regular on the right side of defense, both for Barcelona and the French national team, Koundé is expected to recover by early June, in time for the Nations League semi-final against Spain.
