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Barcelona confirm knee injury for defender Joao Cancelo

Barcelona confirm knee injury for defender Joao Cancelo
© Reuters
Barcelona reveal that defender Joao Cancelo suffered "a left MCL strain" during Thursday's La Liga contest with Las Palmas.

Barcelona have revealed that Joao Cancelo suffered "a left MCL strain" during Thursday's La Liga contest with Las Palmas, with the defender forced off in the early stages of the match.

Cancelo was withdrawn in the 11th minute of what proved to be a 2-1 win for Barcelona, with Ilkay Gundogan netting a 93rd-minute penalty to secure a vital three points for the reigning champions.

The success came at a cost, though, with Cancelo picking up a knee problem which has been confirmed by the club as an "MCL strain".

"Tests carried out this morning have revealed that first team player Joao Cancelo has a left MCL strain. He is out and his recovery will determine his availability," read a statement from the Catalan side.

There was initially fears that it could be a long-term problem, but Barcelona boss Xavi said during his post-match press conference on Thursday that the issue "doesn't seem serious".

Barcelona's Ilkay Gundogan celebrates scoring their second goal with Frenkie de Jong and teammates on January 3, 2024© Reuters

Cancelo will be absent for Barcelona's Copa del Rey contest with Barbastro on Sunday, in addition to the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup against Osasuna.

The Portuguese will also be missing for a potential final against either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid, and the nature of the issue could also keep the 29-year-old out of the league games with Real Betis, Villarreal and Osasuna towards the end of the month.

Cancelo is one of six Barcelona players currently on the sidelines through injury, with Gavi, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Pedri, Inigo Martinez and Marcos Alonso also absent.

The reigning champions trailed 1-0 to Las Palmas on Thursday before recovering, and Xavi said after the clash that he was always confident that a comeback would occur.

Barcelona coach Xavi before the match on December 10, 2023© Reuters

"In the second half we did well. In the first half, we saw easy spaces in behind the defence but we rushed passes. In the second half we were more calm," the head coach told reporters.

"We came back against a team that no team had come back against this season. I had a lot of faith. At half-time, I told the players that we would win 3-1.

"The key of the match was to attack the space in behind their defence. We trained for that the whole week, but we didn't do well. A lot of offsides, horizontal passes, and low precision. We had to be diagonal.

"The goal that we conceded was our mistake. There is always tension. There are many things when playing a football match – nerves, pressure – but if you talk to me about the penalty, for me it is a clear penalty."

Barcelona are currently third in the La Liga table, boasting 41 points from 19 matches, which has left them seven points behind second-placed Girona and leaders Real Madrid.

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CReal Madrid34276174225287
2GironaGirona34235673423174
3Barcelona34227570432773
4Atletico MadridAtletico34214963392467
5Athletic Bilbao341710755332261
6Real Sociedad341412848351354
7Real BetisBetis34131384339452
8Valencia34138133739-247
9Villarreal34129135658-245
10Getafe341013114147-643
11AlavesAlaves34118153238-641
12Sevilla341011134546-141
13Osasuna34116173751-1439
14Las PalmasLas Palmas34107173043-1337
15Celta Vigo34810164052-1234
16Rayo Vallecano34713142743-1634
17Mallorca34614142740-1332
18CadizCadiz34414162349-2626
19Granada3449213664-2821
RAlmeria34211213367-3417


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