Christensen Injury Setback for Barcelona

Barcelona have been dealt an early-season setback, with Hansi Flick confirming that Andreas Christensen faces a spell on the sidelines after limping out of the win over Sevilla.

The defender lasted just an hour at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan before signalling that he could not continue. Clearly frustrated, the Denmark international headed straight for the bench, where his body language told its own story.

The diagnosis came quickly.

“He'll be out for several weeks. It's a muscle injury. He'll have more tests tomorrow,” Flick told reporters after the game, drawing a firm line under any hopes of a quick return.

The immediate consequence is international. Christensen will withdraw from the Denmark squad for their upcoming Nations League fixtures over the international break, a blow for Kasper Hjulmand as well as for Barcelona.

For Flick, the concern runs a little further ahead.

Christensen does at least have the cushion of the break to start his recovery, but the calendar waiting on the other side is unforgiving. When domestic football resumes next month, Barcelona walk straight back into a demanding run: Getafe, Real Betis and Real Madrid in La Liga, with Galatasaray and Paris Saint-Germain looming in the Champions League.

A muscle injury now, with those opponents on the horizon, leaves Flick juggling his defensive options earlier in the season than he would have liked.