Barcelona have confirmed that key defender Jules Koundé sustained a distal hamstring injury during the dramatic 3-3 draw against Inter Milan in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday night. The setback is expected to rule him out of the decisive second leg at San Siro next Tuesday.
Koundé was forced off in the 42nd minute of the match at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys and was replaced by Eric Garcia. The club later released an official statement:
“Tests carried out on first team player Jules Koundé this morning have shown he has a distal hamstring injury in his left leg. His evolution will determine when he returns to first team activities.”
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Koundé has been a defensive cornerstone for Hansi Flick’s side this season, making 53 appearances across all competitions. He has played every minute of Barcelona’s Champions League campaign until his substitution against Inter, and missed just one LaLiga match—the recent 1-0 win over Mallorca.
According to Spanish outlet Marca, Koundé’s return in time for the second leg appears “practically impossible.” Inter striker Lautaro Martínez, who suffered a thigh injury in the same match, also faces a race against time to recover.
Koundé’s injury is a significant blow to Barcelona’s treble hopes, with the defender having been ever-present down the right flank in Flick’s tactical setup.
