Barcelona Injury Crisis Intensifies: Pedri Ruled Out of Squad

Barcelona midfielder Pedri will miss several weeks after suffering a left thigh muscle injury during last weekend's El Clasico defeat to Real Madrid. The 22-year-old Spanish international has become central to coach Hansi Flick's plans this season, making his absence a significant blow for the Catalan club.

Barcelona confirmed the injury in an official statement, saying Pedri suffered a tear in his left biceps femoris muscle. The club noted that his recovery timeline will determine when he returns to action, but didn't provide a specific timeframe.

The injury occurred during Sunday's 2-1 loss at Santiago Bernabeu, where Pedri finished the match exhausted before getting sent off for two yellow cards. Catalan newspaper Ara reported that he began a special gym-based recovery program on Wednesday.

Pedri was already set to miss this weekend's match against Elche due to suspension from his red card. Now he'll definitely be out for Barcelona's Champions League clash with Club Brugge and the La Liga fixture against Celta Vigo on November 9, just before the international break.

This injury adds to Barcelona's growing list of long-term absences. The team is already without Brazilian winger Raphinha, midfielder Gavi, German goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and Danish defender Andreas Christensen. Flick is working to get veteran striker Robert Lewandowski, midfielder Dani Olmo, and goalkeeper Joan Garcia back for the Elche match.

Pedri's absence hits Barcelona particularly hard because of his importance to the team's system. He's started all 13 matches Barcelona has played in La Liga and the Champions League this season. No player has logged more minutes than Pedri, who serves as the creative hub in Barcelona's midfield.

The Spanish international has dealt with physical problems before, including a knee injury during the European Championship earlier this year. His latest setback comes at a crucial time as Barcelona tries to maintain their strong start to the season while managing an increasingly lengthy injury list.