Balde Ruled Out as Barcelona Suffer Major Injury Blow Ahead of Inter Milan Clash

FC Barcelona have been dealt a major setback ahead of their UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Inter Milan, with young left-back Alejandro Balde ruled out due to ongoing fitness concerns.

Balde, who had been working toward a return, was omitted from the recent La Liga clash against Real Valladolid after failing to recover in time. According to club sources, the defender did not feel physically prepared and will now target a return for the upcoming El Clásico against Real Madrid on May 11.

His absence poses a tactical challenge for head coach Hansi Flick, who may be forced to reconfigure the backline. In the first leg against Inter, Flick successfully employed a formation that included four central defenders — a strategy he may be compelled to repeat in Milan.

Adding to Barcelona’s injury concerns, midfielder Gavi was substituted in the 79th minute of the Valladolid game after experiencing discomfort in his right hamstring. Fortunately for the Catalans, medical evaluations confirmed that the issue was muscle cramping, and he is expected to be fit for Tuesday’s showdown.

On a more positive note, striker Robert Lewandowski is reportedly ahead of schedule in his recovery from a hamstring injury suffered in April. The Polish international is expected to rejoin team training and could be available to feature off the bench against Inter, offering a much-needed boost to Barcelona’s attack.

The second leg of the semi-final is set for Tuesday, with the aggregate score locked at 3-3. With a place in the Champions League final in Munich on the line, Barcelona will need a full-strength performance to overcome a resilient Inter Milan at the San Siro.