Key Takeaways:
- Pedri has been diagnosed with a muscle injury to his left hamstring and is expected to be unavailable for three weeks
- The 22-year-old will miss upcoming fixtures against Elche, Club Brugge in the Champions League, and Celta Vigo before the international break
- This marks Pedri’s first injury absence since July 2024, following a consistent run of 49 consecutive appearances
Setback for Flick as Pedri Forced onto the Sidelines
Barcelona have been dealt a significant blow with the news that influential midfielder Pedri is set for a period on the sidelines following a muscle injury to his left hamstring. Despite already contending with a series of injuries this season, losing Pedri comes as perhaps the most damaging setback for manager Hansi Flick, given his key role in maintaining the team’s cohesion.
The problem emerged after Pedri featured prominently against Real Madrid, where he was pushed to his physical limits. Subsequent medical assessment has advised a rest period of three weeks, during which time the midfielder will not be available for selection.
❗𝗜𝗡𝗝𝗨𝗥𝗬 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦
First team player Pedri has suffered a tear in the distal biceps femoris muscle in his left thigh.
The player's recovery will dictate his return to action. pic.twitter.com/36sw9sJL8z— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 29, 2025
During Pedri’s absence, Barcelona are scheduled to host Elche and travel to face both Club Brugge in the Champions League and Celta Vigo in La Liga. The timing of the international break may serve to limit the number of fixtures he misses, and the midfielder should, in theory, be fit to return for matches against Athletic Club and Chelsea, provided his rehabilitation proceeds without setbacks. However, the team have struggled with linear recoveries this season, as shown by previous injury absences for players such as Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Fermin Lopez, and Dani Olmo.
Concerns Over Injury Management
This upcoming Sunday will mark the first occasion since July 2024 that Pedri is absent due to a muscle problem, after a similar issue led to his withdrawal during the Euro 2024 quarter-finals against Germany. Remarkably, he had featured in the last 49 consecutive matches for club and country and missed just a single game last season due to illness.
Nevertheless, the recurrence of muscular problems after a challenging period marred by persistent injuries over the previous two seasons will reignite debate over the club’s approach to managing Pedri’s workload and fitness.
Potential Impact and Recovery Outlook
If there is any slight cause for optimism, Pedri will, in principle, only miss two matches through injury, as he would have been suspended for the clash with Elche regardless. The international break provides an additional buffer for his recovery, potentially minimising disruption to Barcelona’s campaign. Still, any lengthy period without Pedri would be a grave concern for Flick, given the midfielder’s substantial influence on the team’s fortunes.
