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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Cancelo was withdrawn in the 11th minute of what proved to be a 2-1 win for Barcelona, with Ilkay Gundogan netting a 93rd-minute penalty to secure a vital three points for the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
1Real Madrid33266171224984
2Barcelona32217464372770
3GironaGirona32215667402768
4Atletico MadridAtletico32194959382161
5Athletic Bilbao321610652302258
6Real Sociedad331312846351151
7Real BetisBetis32121284038248
8Valencia32138113534147
9Villarreal32119125155-442
10Getafe32913103844-640
11Osasuna32116153746-939
12Sevilla32910134145-437
13Las PalmasLas Palmas32107153039-937
14AlavesAlaves3298152838-1035
15Rayo Vallecano32713122739-1234
16Celta Vigo32710153747-1031
17Mallorca32613132638-1231
18CadizCadiz32413152245-2325
19Granada3239203361-2818
20Almeria32111203164-3314


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