FC Barcelona are entering one of the most crucial stretches of the 2024–25 season, with a UEFA Champions League Final berth and the La Liga title both on the line. As the pressure mounts, Lamine Yamal and the rest of the team have received a troubling injury update regarding a key player ahead of their Champions League semifinal second leg against Inter Milan.
The first leg between Barcelona and Inter lived up to the hype, producing one of the most thrilling matches of the season. Yamal emerged as a standout performer in the 3–3 draw, but the result means Barca must get a win or high-scoring draw on Italian soil to advance. Their task, however, just got tougher.
Jules Kounde has suffered a distal injury to the biceps femoris in his left thigh, ruling him out of the crucial return leg against Inter. The French defender was forced off in the 42nd minute of the first leg due to discomfort, and the club has now confirmed the injury.
“So disappointed to pick up an injury at this moment of the season, when everything is on the line… but sometimes there’s only so much you can control. Full trust that this team will get the job done no matter who’s on the pitch. Thank you all for your support, it means a lot,” wrote Kounde on his Instagram account.
Kounde has been a vital piece of Hansi Flick’s system this season, appearing in 53 of Barcelona’s 54 matches. His absence is a major setback, especially given his recent heroics in the Copa del Rey Final. Without him, the defense will face a serious test in Milan.
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Kounde also set to miss El Clasico
Kounde’s injury is not only a blow for the Champions League but also for another marquee matchup—El Clasico. With an estimated recovery time of three weeks, the 26-year-old is expected to miss the La Liga clash against Real Madrid on Sunday, May 11.
While there’s hope he could return for the final stretch of the season—or a potential Champions League Final—his absence for the next few matches is significant. In the meantime, Eric García is expected to step into a larger role after featuring in the first leg against Inter.
