Barcelona’s Koundé Suffers Hamstring Injury, Set to Miss Champions League Return Leg Against Inter

Barcelona defender Jules Koundé is expected to miss the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan after sustaining a hamstring injury. The club confirmed on Thursday that the French international suffered the injury during Wednesday night’s pulsating 3-3 draw in the first leg at the Olympic Stadium in Catalunya.

In an official statement, Barcelona said, “Tests carried out this morning have shown that first-team player Jules Koundé has a hamstring injury in his left thigh.” While the club did not provide a timeline for his recovery, Koundé is a serious doubt for the upcoming Clásico against Real Madrid on May 11 and has already been ruled out of Saturday’s La Liga fixture away to Real Valladolid.

Koundé, 26, was forced off during the second half of the Champions League tie and was replaced by Eric García, who took over duties at right-back for the remainder of the game. His absence will be a significant blow for manager Xavi Hernández, as Barcelona prepare for the return leg at the San Siro next Tuesday.

With Barça leading La Liga by four points over arch-rivals Real Madrid and still competing on multiple fronts, including the domestic league, Champions League, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa, Koundé’s injury comes at a critical moment in their pursuit of a historic quadruple.

Koundé has been a key figure in Barcelona’s campaign this season, making 53 appearances across all competitions. His versatility and defensive solidity have made him an integral part of the backline, and his potential absence for both domestic and European clashes adds pressure on the squad depth in the final stretch of the season.